The state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, were dismissed Tuesday as he appeared for a pre-trial hearing in New York City.
Mangione entered Manhattan Criminal Court just before 9:30 a.m., wearing a tan prison jumpsuit, for the hearing on multiple pre-trial motions. Dozens of journalists and members of the public filled the courtroom.
Mangione faces both state and federal charges in connection with Thompson’s death, which occurred last December outside a Manhattan hotel. The 11 state charges included murder and terrorism, while the federal case carries the possibility of the death penalty.
His attorneys had argued that the state charges should be dismissed, claiming the parallel federal and state cases amounted to double jeopardy. In a written ruling Tuesday, Judge Gregory Carro denied that request.
The defense also requested the dismissal of the terrorism charges, arguing they were inapplicable. Prosecutors countered, asserting Mangione’s intent was to “violently broadcast a social and political message to the public at large.”
Judge Carro ruled to dismiss both terrorism charges — first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism — deeming them “legally insufficient.”
“There was no evidence presented of a desire to terrorize the public, inspire widespread fear, engage in a broader campaign of violence, or to conspire with organized terrorist groups,” Carro wrote. “Here, the crime – the heinous, but targeted and discrete killing of one person – is very different from the examples of terrorism set forth in the statute.”
Mangione will still face second-degree murder and eight weapons-related charges in the state case. He has pleaded not guilty.
The defense also sought to suppress evidence found in his backpack, including a gun and a notebook, claiming it was seized without a search warrant. Prosecutors have denied the claims and requested that the court require Mangione’s attorneys to state whether they plan to pursue an insanity defense or introduce psychiatric evidence.
The judge did not issue rulings on either of those matters Tuesday but confirmed that hearings in the case are scheduled to begin on Dec. 1.
