Top Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione Dismissed: New York Post Report
According to the New York Post, a significant legal development has emerged in the highly publicized case of Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old Ivy League graduate accused in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, New York State Judge Gregory Carro dismissed the terrorism charges against Mangione in what analysts are calling a substantial setback for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
The court maintained the second-degree murder charges against Mangione but determined that the prosecution failed to provide legally sufficient evidence to support the terrorism allegations. In his written decision, Judge Carro stated that while Mangione “was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population.’”
This ruling represents a significant victory for Mangione’s defense team, who had previously argued that the post-9/11 terrorism statute was being improperly applied to their client’s case. The decision effectively removes the two most serious charges from the state’s prosecution – first-degree murder and second-degree murder as acts of terrorism.
Mangione’s case has garnered substantial attention, particularly among young Americans frustrated with the healthcare system. The December 4, 2024 incident, captured on surveillance video, showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as he arrived for an investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown. Investigators reported finding “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” scrawled on ammunition – phrases commonly associated with insurance claim denials.
Despite the dismissal of terrorism charges, Mangione continues to face serious legal challenges. The federal prosecution, operating parallel to the state case, is seeking the death penalty after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi characterized the killing as “an act of political violence” and a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
The court appearance drew significant public interest, with numerous supporters gathering outside the Manhattan courthouse. One supporter in the courtroom wore a shirt emblazoned with “FREE LUIGI,” while others cheered upon hearing news of the dismissed terrorism charges. This growing support base has adopted the color green, associated with the video game character Luigi, as a symbol of solidarity.
Judge Carro has scheduled pretrial hearings for December 1, 2025, shortly before Mangione’s next federal court appearance. Since his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania five days after the shooting, Mangione has been held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
Legal experts note that this ruling specifically addresses the state’s terrorism charges and does not impact the federal prosecution’s case. The unusual dual prosecution has created what Mangione’s attorneys describe as a “legal quagmire” that makes it “legally and logistically impossible to defend against them simultaneously.”
For young Americans following this case, particularly those concerned with healthcare industry practices, the court’s decision represents a significant moment in determining how the justice system categorizes ideologically motivated acts against corporate executives. The ruling suggests a meaningful distinction between expressing grievances against an industry and engaging in terrorism as defined under New York law.
As this case continues to develop, both prosecutions face the challenge of navigating complex legal questions about jurisdiction, double jeopardy, and the appropriate application of terrorism statutes in cases involving corporate targets rather than the general public.
The next significant development in this closely watched case will likely come during the December hearings, when further legal challenges to the remaining charges are expected from Mangione’s defense team.