Despite this guilty plea to federal charges, Mangione still faces eight New York state charges, including second degree murder.

He has pleaded not guilty to all eight of those charges, and he is due to stand trial over them starting 8 September.

But this guilty plea in the federal case could have a cascading impact on the upcoming proceedings in state court.

It could open the door for defence lawyers to argue the state case runs afoul of double jeopardy – a US constitutional protection that prevents an individual from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Mangione has finished his statement.

Judge Garnett sets the sentencing date for 18 December, and the hearing is over, according to US media.

Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty, according to US media in the courtroom.

Members of Brian Thompson's family began to cry in court as Mangione spoke, admitting he had killed the healthcare CEO, the BBC's US news partner CBS reports.

Luigi Mangione is reading a statement in court after the judge asks him to detail what he did that makes him guilty, US media inside the courtroom report.

He proceeds to give a detailed account of what led up to the shooting, and he ends it with a confession that he carried out the shooting.

"I shot Mr. Thompson... and he died," he says.

Mangione tells the court, "I shot Mr Thompson", according to reports from US media.

As the hearing continues, the family of Brian Thompson is in the courtroom listening.

Luigi Mangione is accused of killing Thompson, the United Healthcare chief executive, in New York in 2024.

Judge Margaret Garnett says Mangione is in a state to enter a plea, CNN reports.

Garnett swore Mangione in and asked him a series of questions to ensure he was in a fit mental state to enter this plea.

At the end of her questioning, she certified he was.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court

Luigi Mangione walked in to the courtroom with his lawyers a few moments ago.

He is wearing a beige jail uniform.

Mangione's lawyer says her client is here today to plead guilty.

The judge asks Mangione if that is true. "Yes," he responds.

Luigi Mangione's hearing is beginning in federal court following reports in US media of a possible plea deal.

We've got reporters in the room who'll be keeping us updated. Stick with us for the latest updates.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Luigi Mangione, 28 is the son of a prominent Maryland family. At his elite private school, he came top of his class, going on to graduate from Ivy League college the University of Pennsylvania.

He spent time in a surfing community in Hawaii but left owing to debilitating back pain, say those who remember him.

It is unclear, however, to what extent his own health troubles shaped his views of the medical industry.

Mangione's mother reported him missing in November to San Francisco authorities, telling them she had not heard from her son since July.

He was arrested for the murder of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot on 4 December 2024, in New York City. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

• Read more about the man allegedly behind the killing of the healthcare chief executive

Ahead of today’s hearing, there has been speculation that, in the event of a federal plea deal, Mangione’s lawyers might seek to get his state murder charge dropped under double jeopardy.

This is a constitutional protection that stops a person being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Even though Mangione is facing different charges in each of the separate cases, his lawyers have previously argued he shouldn’t be tried in both state and federal court. So far, judges have allowed both cases to proceed.

It is unclear exactly what would happen if Mangione’s attorneys did invoke double jeopardy today. The state trial is due to start on 8 September.

Since the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, the case against Luigi Mangione has become about more than just the evidence that will be tested in court.

Across politics, social media and the news media, competing groups have sought to frame the story through their own lens, linking it to debates about left-wing violence, Antifa, healthcare, political extremism and public anger at powerful institutions.

In this episode of the BBC's podcast The Mangione Trial, journalist and extremism expert Mike Wendling helps untangle the claims, examining what terms such as "far left" and "Antifa" actually mean, why some commentators have associated them with the case, and what evidence exists about Mangione's political views.

The episode also explores how a high-profile criminal case can become a political symbol, even when the facts are disputed and a trial has yet to take place.

You can listen to it here.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

While I and my colleague Nada are in court, we won’t be allowed to have any electronics like a phone or a laptop.

That’s because federal courts bar the public and most press from using these devices in a courtroom, besides a handful of journalists who are exempt here at the Southern District of New York.

We’ll be using good old-fashioned pen and paper to record everything that happens inside, then running outside as soon as court is out to report the news.

It also means you won't be seeing any photos or videos of Mangione's appearance in the courtroom today.

Image source, Reuters

Members of Luigi Mangione's defence team have been pictured arriving at the court in Lower Manhattan ahead of his hearing.

Wife and husband Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Marc Agnifilo have been seen walking outside the building.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

As we reported earlier, Mangione faces two separate criminal prosecutions - one in a New York state court and another in federal court.

They both relate to the killing of Brian Thompson in 2024, but each case comes with different charges and complications.

Here’s a breakdown:

Federal court (that’s where we are today)

• Charges: Two counts of stalking resulting in death
• Maximum possible sentence: Life in prison
• Current plea: Not guilty to all
• Trial date: January 2027
• The key detail: Federal prosecutors brought the stalking charges against Mangione for allegedly travelling, and using surveillance, to kill Thompson. They were filed in federal court because he allegedly crossed state lines for the crime, giving the federal authorities the power to charge him

State court

• Charges: Second degree murder, possession of a forged instrument (for alleged fake driver’s licence), and six counts of criminal possession of a weapon
• Maximum possible sentence: 25 years to life in prison
• Trial date: 8 September 2026
• The key detail: If Mangione pleads guilty in federal court today, it throws this state case into limbo. His lawyers could argue the state case runs afoul of double jeopardy – a constitutional protection that stops someone being prosecuted twice for the same crime

Image source, EPA

Brian Thompson, 50, was the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private healthcare insurer in the US.

He started at the company in 2004, before working his way up. His widow said he had been receiving threats relating to medical “coverage” following his appointment as the chief executive in April 2021.

On 4 December 2024, while leaving his hotel in New York to walk to a conference, Thompson was fatally shot in the back.

A private funeral was held near where the father-of-two lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

A statement issued on behalf of the family at the time said: “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian.

"Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives."

UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare's parent company, said it was "deeply saddened and shocked" by his death.

• Who was Brian Thompson, healthcare CEO gunned down in New York?

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court

Outside the court, the BBC has been speaking to members of the public about their views on the case.

Kristopher Aadahl, who goes by the name O, says he wants to judge the events of the day for himself and not rely on media representations.

O, who says he used to work for the state but has become homeless, says he sees Mangione as someone who was "willing to sacrifice his life and potentially spend the rest of his life in prison to do what he felt was right".

His views are an example of the support that Mangione has found among some people.

Also outside the court, is William Dobbs, a lawyer who does criminal justice work.

"I am concerned that when there is punishment, there's got to be a chance for rehabilitation, dare I say, for redemption? Otherwise, many high profile, egregious cases can veer into vengeance," he says.

Dobbs adds that he's concerned there are two cases, the federal and the state, for the same crime.

Image source, Reuters

People are starting to gather outside the court in Lower Manhattan ahead of Luigi Mangione's hearing.

Among them is a man who can be seen holding a placard and stickers have been pasted outside.

Our reporter at the scene says not many of Mangione's supporters have gathered yet but there is still a while to go before the hearing is expected to begin.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Image source, BBC / Kayla Epstein

I’m at the federal courthouse where Luigi Mangione is expected to appear for a hearing later.

Dozens of press outlets from around the world have set up outside the courthouse and across the street.

Meanwhile, several regular Mangione supporters and longtime court observers wait patiently behind a metal barricade for the chance to access the courtroom.

So far, the atmosphere is calm but anticipation is high as several US outlets report Mangione’s lawyers and federal prosecutors may discuss a possible plea deal.

We’ll be bringing you more from inside court this morning.