Judge Dismisses First Degree Murder Charge For Luigi Mangione

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A judge in New York dismissed the charges for first degree murder and second degree murder as a crime of terrorism against Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, finding the charges “legally insufficient”—but allowed the other counts to remain, including intentional second degree murder.

Mangione, 27, was indicted on 11 New York State charges after his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, over a week after Thompson’s murder, and will still face nine of those charges, including second degree murder and several weapons charges.

Mangione pleaded not guilty to all charges in December, and his attorneys have been working to get the case dismissed.

Judge Gregory Carro ruled that “there was no evidence presented that defendant’s conscious objective or intent was to intimidate or coerce the employees of United Healthcare,” and found that writings found in Mangione’s backpack and presented as evidence instead pointed to his desire to “draw attention to what he perceived as the greed of the insurance industry” and “negatively affect the financials of the company.”

Carro also noted that federal prosecutors did not charge Mangione with terrorism, “even though the federal terrorism statute served as a model for the state statute.”

Supporters for Mangione, who has become a popular symbol for Americans outraged by rising costs of the health insurance industry, gathered outside the courthouse in costumes bearing signs that read “Free Luigi,” “Healthcare is a human right” and “Not Guilty.”

This is a breaking story and will be updated.