Judge Drops State Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione

A New York state judge, Gregory Carro, has dismissed two state‐level terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione. These were “first‐degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism” and “murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism.”

The judge found that the evidence presented to a grand jury did not meet New York’s legal standard for terrorism—specifically, there was insufficient proof that Mangione intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to influence government policy. The ruling was issued during a court hearing on September 16, 2025.

What Charges Still Stand for Luigi Mangione?

Though the terrorism tags were dropped, Mangione remains charged with multiple serious crimes. The state retains a second‐degree murder charge, which requires proof of intentional killing, without requiring that it be tied to terrorism. In addition, there are eight other state charges, including weapons possession and false identification.

He also faces federal murder charges, and the U.S. Justice Department is seeking the death penalty in the federal case.

Why Terrorism Charges Were Rejected

Judge Carro’s decision rests on a legal distinction: ideology or anger toward a target (in this case, healthcare insurance) does not automatically make a killing an act of terrorism. Under New York law, to qualify as terrorism, it must be shown that the defendant sought to intimidate or coerce a population or influence government policy through fear.

The judge found that prosecutors had not proven those elements.

Prosecutors’ View & Reaction

The state prosecution argued that Mangione’s writings, diary entries, and certain actions signaled more than mere personal grievance. They claimed he intended to send a message, to stir attention and fear, particularly among insurance workers and those involved in health care policy.

But the judge was not convinced this amounted to legally sufficient evidence for a terrorism designation. Prosecutors express respect for the ruling and plan to proceed with the remaining charges, including the second‐degree murder count.

Defense Position & Legal Arguments

Mangione’s legal team had challenged the terrorism charges and also raised concerns about the fact that he is being prosecuted on overlapping state and federal charges. They argued that this could create double jeopardy issues or complicate his defense.

The judge rejected the double jeopardy claim for now, finding it premature, and declined requests to delay the state proceedings until after the federal trial.

Implications & What’s Next

With those top state terrorism charges off the table, the legal stakes in New York have shifted. The second-degree murder charge carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life, with the possibility of parole—distinct from a terrorism conviction, which might have mandated life without parole.

Meanwhile, the federal case remains active and serious, with the death penalty on the table. A pretrial hearing for the state case is scheduled for December 1, 2025.

You might also want to read: Luigi Mangione: 27 Items of Gratitude from Jail at Age 27