New York Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione in Brian Thompson Murder Case
On 16 Sept 2025, a New York judge dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in the Brian Thompson murder case, though murder counts remain.
Raja Awais Ali
9/16/20251 min read
New York Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione
16 September 2025 – New York: A Manhattan judge dismissed two state-level terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in the high-profile murder case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, while keeping the core murder counts intact.
Court Ruling
Justice Gregory Carro ruled that prosecutors failed to prove Mangione acted with the specific intent required under New York’s anti-terrorism statute. To uphold a terrorism charge, the state must show intent to intimidate the civilian population or influence government policy. Carro found no such evidence, noting that Mangione’s writings criticizing the health-insurance industry did not meet that legal threshold.
As a result, charges of first-degree murder as an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism were formally dismissed.
Charges Still Pending
Luigi Mangione, 27 years old, continues to face:
Second-degree murder under New York state law
Eight additional state counts, including illegal weapon possession and false identification
Federal charges, where prosecutors may seek harsher penalties, including the death penalty
Case Background
On 4 December 2024, Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel during an investor conference. Police arrested Mangione shortly after. Prosecutors alleged his actions were fueled by hostility toward the U.S. healthcare system, citing notebooks where he criticized insurance companies. However, the court ruled these writings insufficient to establish terrorism intent.
Legal and Social Impact
The decision clarifies that strong political or ideological views alone do not qualify as terrorism without clear evidence of an intent to terrorize or coerce. Legal analysts say the ruling sets an important precedent for applying New York’s terrorism statute.
Public opinion is divided: some argue the dismissal rightly narrows overly broad terrorism laws, while critics say the seriousness of killing a high-profile corporate figure should not be minimized.
What’s Next
The murder trial remains ongoing. Mangione has pleaded not guilty and continues to be held without bail. Federal prosecutors are expected to announce their next steps in the parallel case in the coming weeks.