Luigi Mangione just scored a stunning courtroom victory that no one — not prosecutors, not even some of his own supporters — saw coming. In a dramatic moment inside Manhattan Supreme Court, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed the two most explosive charges against him: first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism.
The courtroom reaction? Electric. Supporters gasped, covered their faces in shock, and at least one person wiped away tears. And outside, fans waving “Free Luigi” signs and wearing green hats in tribute to his namesake from Super Mario Bros. were already calling it a turning point.
Make no mistake — this case isn’t over. Mangione still faces a slew of serious charges, including second-degree murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson last December, plus multiple weapons charges and possession of a forged instrument. But the terrorism allegations were the centerpiece of the state’s case — the kind of charges that could have guaranteed a life sentence or worse. Now? They’re gone.
Mangione, shackled at the wrists and ankles, walked into court in a tan prison uniform and remained quiet as the judge delivered the ruling. His legal team argued that prosecutors rushed to indict, and on this point, at least, the judge agreed. Carro said the evidence simply wasn’t strong enough to justify terrorism-related charges under the law.
So where does that leave us? Well, it leaves Mangione’s legal team with momentum. It leaves prosecutors scrambling. And it leaves a deeply divided public trying to make sense of what’s become one of the most polarizing criminal cases in recent memory.
Mangione isn’t just a defendant — he’s become a symbol. To his critics, he’s a cold-blooded killer who used political frustration as a smokescreen. To his supporters, he’s a vigilante hero who took aim at a broken healthcare system. Some even say he’s inspired copycats, pointing to the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by a man who also engraved slogans on bullet casings — just like Mangione allegedly did.
The comparisons are piling up. Both killings featured carefully staged symbolism. Both suspects had ideological motives. Both have triggered firestorms of outrage — and admiration — depending on which side of the cultural divide you stand on.
And Mangione’s supporters? They’re not going anywhere. From raising over \$1.2 million for his defense fund to organizing in person and online, they’re turning his trial into something bigger than just one man’s fate. One supporter summed it up bluntly outside the courthouse: “Violence is wrong, but sometimes you reach a point where every other option has failed.”
Of course, Mangione’s story doesn’t end here. He still faces second-degree murder at the state level, and a looming federal case that could carry the death penalty if convicted. The feds are not backing off — they’re calling this a terrorist act, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has already said she’ll push for execution.
This is a legal saga that keeps twisting and turning, but one thing is clear: today was a win for Mangione, a shock for prosecutors, and a moment that’s going to ripple far beyond a single courtroom in Manhattan.
