Luigi Mangione’s Top Terrorism Charges DROPPED By New York Judge

The accused killer of the UnitedHealth CEO, Luigi Mangione, just had some of his top charges dropped.

A New York judge dropped the top terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione the accused killer of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.

Judge Gregory Carro ruled that Mangione’s actions did not reflect terrorism under New York state law.

The New York Post reported more details on the New York judge’s decision to throw out the terrorism charges:

A judge has thrown out the top counts in Luigi Mangione’s state murder case — rejecting claims that the accused killer can be charged as a terrorist — in a huge blow to prosecutors.

In a ruling released Tuesday, Judge Gregory Carro tossed charges of murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism against the 27-year-old Ivy League grad.

The judge did keep alive Mangione’s other second-degree murder charge for allegedly executing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood outside the health care company’s investor conference on Dec. 4, 2024.

“The People presented sufficient evidence that the defendant murdered Brian Thompson in a premeditated and calculated execution. That does not mean, however, that the defendant did so with terroristic intent,” Carro wrote in his decision.

The ruling means that Mangione still faces 25 years to life in the state case, but not the 25 years to life without the possibility of parole that he had been facing.

A judge on Tuesday dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges. pic.twitter.com/rXl9il3igr

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 16, 2025

JUST IN: Luigi Mangione enters a NYC courthouse for a status hearing — state terrorism charges against him have now been dismissed. | @EricShawnTV pic.twitter.com/0FpeG2XHkE

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 16, 2025

ABC 6 reported on Mangione’s next trial date:

The judge scheduled pretrial hearings in the case for Dec. 1, which is days before Mangione is next due in court in the federal case against him.

It was Mangione’s first court appearance in the state case since February, and he wore beige prison clothes, handcuffs and shackles. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry.

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Dozens of his supporters showed up to his last hearing, many wearing the Luigi video game character’s green color as a symbol of solidarity. His April arraignment in the federal case and Tuesday’s hearing in state court drew a similar outpouring.

On Tuesday, one fan in the courtroom wore a shirt saying “FREE LUIGI.” Outside, some supporters who gathered across the street from the courthouse cheered and clapped as news of the dropped terrorism charges spread.

Mangione earlier pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism, in the Dec. 4, 2024, killing. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as he arrived for an investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown.

Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.