US judge dismisses murder, weapons charges against alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.reuters.com/world/judge-dismisses-murder-weapons-charges-against-alleged-unitedhealth-ceo-killer-2026-01-30/

NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A New York federal judge on Friday dismissed murder and weapons charges against alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, a major blow to prosecutors that means Mangione no longer faces a possible death penalty if convicted.

Mangione, 27, previously pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and stalking charges for allegedly gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Midtown Manhattan in 2024. Public officials condemned the shocking killing, but Mangione became a folk hero of sorts to some Americans who decry steep healthcare costs and insurance practices.

U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in Manhattan said she dismissed the murder and weapons charges because they were legally incompatible with the two counts of stalking Mangione faces.

Garnett previously scheduled jury selection to begin in the case in September.

ETA: The stalking charges still include charges of causing the CEO's death. It's just that with the federal murder charge off the table, Mangione will not face the death penalty; the stalking charge can get life without parole.

[pwb]

1. Drop the stalking charge and keep the murder charge.

works better for me.

[ScratchCat]

2. How are the charges "incompatible"

That makes no legal sense at all. Stalking and murder are completely separate things.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Seems to me that stalking would create a mens rea,

a motivation to kill, malice aforethought.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. The stalking charges still include charges of causing the CEO's death. It's just that with the federal murder charge off

off the table, Mangione will not face the death penalty; the stalking charge can get life without parole.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Got it. A federal murder charge would be connected with

ANOTHER federal crime, e.g., kidnapping.

[Ms. Toad]

11. It isn't that they aren't two separate things - it is that stalking is not a violet crime

under the statute that pulls in the death penalty as a punishment.

The Feds wanted to have access to the death penalty - so they charged him with a form of murder which requires killing with a firearm while committing another (separate) violent crime. The feds alleged the stalking was that other violent crime; the judge disagreed (it doesn't legally qualify as a violent crime).

He is still charged with state murder (no death penalty). I suspect the feds may try to gin up something else that will get them the death penalty under federal law.

[nitpicked]

4. Link to CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/us/luigi-mangione-case-rulings-trial

[hlthe2b]

5. He will still face NY state charges of second degree murder. (I'm opposed to the DP so I'm assuming not avail. in NY)

[Prairie Gates]

8. ...

[Solly Mack]

9. ...

[bdamomma]

10. Good for

Luigi.

[sarisataka]

12. I found this confusing until I saw it refers to Federal charges

As long as it is taking the death penalty off the table, I really don’t care what they call the charge he faces.