N.Y. judge dismisses state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, keeps murder charge

A New York state judge dismissed state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione on Tuesday but kept second-degree murder charges in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December

A New York state judge dismissed state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione on Tuesday but kept second-degree murder charges in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December.

New York Judge Gregory Carro tossed out charges of murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism against Mangione, ruling the charges were "legally insufficient." Carro ruled that prosecutors presented "legally sufficient evidence of all other counts, including Murder in the Second Degree."

"While the People place great emphasis on defendant’s ‘ideological’ motive, there is no indication in the statute that a murder committed for ideological reasons (in this case, the defendant’s apparent desire to draw attention to what he perceived as inequities or greed within the American health care system), fits within the definition of terrorism, without establishing the necessary element of an intent to intimidate or coerce," Carro wrote in his ruling.

Mangione, 27, still faces federal charges and other state charges in Pennsylvania, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

Police escort Luigi Mangione into court Tuesday.Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty ImagesDefense lawyers have argued for the New York state charges to be dismissed, contending that Mangione faced double jeopardy with state and federal charges. Carro rejected the request, calling the double jeopardy argument "premature."