Luigi Mangione just pled guilty to stalking in his federal case in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... a stunning move that could torpedo his upcoming New York state murder trial.
Mangione spoke to the judge, saying ... "After years of enduring pain from a broken back, I shot Mr. Thompson, and he died. I knew what I was doing was illegal." His lawyer, Karen Agnifilo, said during a news conference, "He endured years of severe, debilitating pain, following a broken back, while struggling to navigate our health care and health insurance systems," adding, "He believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life."
Agnifilo is previewing what she will argue before the judge when it comes time for sentencing ... that Luigi was so overwrought with pain and anger he was not fully in his right mind when he fired the shots that killed Brian Thompson.
Mangione said he tracked Thompson to a UnitedHealthCare conference, where he posed as an investor to get more info on who was attending. He said he used a gun he printed on a 3-D printer and affixed it with a silencer.
Mangione pled guilty to interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death.
Thompson's family was in court to watch the dramatic turn of events. Afterward, the family said they are happy Mangione has been held accountable for "this heinous act," adding, "Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime."
Luigi Mangione's lawyer says his federal guilty pleas should knock out the state murder case against him ... arguing he can't be prosecuted twice over the same killing.
Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo spoke outside the courthouse Friday after Mangione pleaded guilty to federal charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... saying her client has now accepted "full responsibility" for Thompson's death.
Agnifilo says Mangione suffered years of severe pain from a broken back and believed the healthcare and insurance systems had failed him ... but her big argument Friday was that the killing was one event, and Mangione shouldn't be prosecuted twice for it.
In fact, his lawyers aren't wasting any time ... Agnifilo has filed a motion, obtained by TMZ, asking a judge to toss the state case under New York's double jeopardy protections.
The New England Patriots did it big for Mike Vrabel's birthday ... surprising the coach with one of the team's biggest superfans -- Bon Jovi!!
The Super Bowl champ turned the big 5-1 on Friday ... and while he had a loud 2026 with all things Dianna Russini, the vibes were much better with a celebration at training camp.
Pats owner Robert Kraft led the charge ... enlisting the rookie class to serenade Vrabel with a rendition of "Happy Birthday," with the team mascot, Pat Patriot, standing nearby.
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris briefly woke from an induced coma and asked to leave the hospital ... but doctors were forced to sedate him again after his blood pressure rose and he struggled to breathe.
Doctors placed Paris in an induced coma after he arrived at the hospital from his medical emergency last week so they could provide critical care ... according to an update from a Facebook page created by Verdine White's wife, Shelly.
At one point, Paris opened his eyes, looked around, and asked for his wife, musician Kathy Merrick. Once he saw her, he turned to a close friend named Eddie and joked, "Get me outta here."
The emotional breakthrough brought tears, laughter, and renewed hope to those at his bedside ... but it was short-lived.
TMZ may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page.
Your couch is calling. National Relaxation Day is coming up and there's no better excuse to kick back and do absolutely nothing.
Whether your idea of R&R involves curling up with a good book and a cozy blanket or you're all about treating yourself to an at-home spa day, we've got everything you need to help you chill out in style.
So put aside your to-do list and cancel any plans. Your only responsibility is relaxing this weekend.
Taylor Frankie Paul's still holding out hope fans might see her fall in love on "The Bachelorette" ... sharing a petition that calls for ABC to air the dang thing ... and it's got a lot of signatures.
The reality star posted the link to her Instagram story ... telling her fans she loved them for making it -- and admitting she signed it herself.
Taylor also shared the full demand letter from the petition ... which argues fans have been deprived of watching the star on a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Her fans say they've followed her and "know her heart."
A Florida woman fatally shot her mother and two of her children before taking her own life after she got into a heated argument with her husband over porn found on his phone ... according to police.
Plant City Police Chief Richard Mills held a press conference Thursday after investigators concluded their investigation into the May 3 murder-suicide.
Mills said Hailey Dempsey fatally shot her mom, Valerie DeBoe, at their residence in the Tampa Bay area and then ran away with her three young daughters. Dempsey then allegedly shot and killed her 4-month-old and 4-year-old and also tried to shoot the 2-year-old but missed.
Influencer Brianna Olsen's baby dad, Santos Salazar, was taken into custody early Thursday morning for alleged attempted murder, TMZ has learned.
According to online records, Salazar was taken into custody at approximately 12:30 AM and booked around 4:40 AM. His bail was set at $1 million, and he is facing a felony charge.
LAPD tells TMZ ... Salazar was booked for attempted murder.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... LAPD responded to a domestic violence call to an address belonging to both Salazar and Olsen on Wednesday night around 9:40 PM.
A 13-year-old boy in Arizona is fighting an assault charge over a gym class dodgeball game ... after authorities say he targeted and brutalized his ex-girlfriend with dodgeballs ... peppering her so badly that she needed a hospital trip.
The case centers on 13-year-old Abel Schipper, who is charged with misdemeanor assault over a December 2025 dodgeball game at Mayer High School in Yavapai County.
Abel admits he and two friends threw foam dodgeballs at the girl when she walked out of the bathroom for warm-ups ... saying he hit her, one friend missed, and another connected ... according to AZFamily.
Life aboard some U.S. warships doesn't sound like smooth sailing ... with sailors and their families sounding off about alleged broken toilets, undercooked food and marathon stretches at sea.
The complaints come as families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln raise concerns over conditions during its lengthy deployment in the Middle East ... with publicly shared messages describing shortages, plumbing problems and trouble getting mail.
Journalist Aaron Parnas says his inbox is now flooded with messages from people who have family members aboard the Lincoln ... and he posted images of one note claiming sailors have no "workable toilets around us," are being served "undercooked chicken" and aren't getting mail regularly.
9:28 AM PT -- Mangione pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges related to Thompson's shooting death ... one count of interstate stalking resulting in death and one count of stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death.
He admitted to stalking Thompson to a healthcare conference and shooting him with a gun he printed on a 3-D printer. As Luigi pled guilty, Thompson's widow Paulette was visibly emotional and other members of his family were seen fighting back tears.
Mangione said ... "I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan. I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal."
After Friday's court hearing, Thompson's family issued a statement saying ... "Today's guilty plea marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family. While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable. Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime."
Luigi Mangione will have Brian Thompson's family looking on as he faces a federal judge Friday ... with the slain UnitedHealthcare CEO's loved ones sitting front row.
Thompson's mother, widow and several other family members entered the Manhattan federal courtroom ahead of Mangione's highly anticipated hearing ... taking their seats together in the first row.
Allen Lazard and his fiancée, Camila Escribens, have called off their engagement and gone their separate ways ... less than a year after having a baby together ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the former New York Jets wide receiver and former Miss Peru have split and are no longer planning to walk down the aisle.
They have an infant daughter, and we're told they already sent out wedding invitations.
Cops showed up at Blueface's home after he was seen kicking his pregnant girlfriend into the pool, but he was not arrested ... TMZ has learned.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the rapper's Santa Clarita home Wednesday night after a concerned person noticed a video of him kicking his heavily pregnant girlfriend, Nevaeh Akira ... forcing her into a pool.
The kick was livestreamed and is currently making its way around the internet ... but it appears Nevaeh wasn't too concerned.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... authorities made contact with her and she told them there was no altercation with Blueface and she didn't suffer any injuries. As a result, cops didn't make any arrests.
Tyler Duckworth was found dead in an overflowing bathtub after a neighbor noticed water coming from his North Dakota apartment ... TMZ has learned.
Grand Forks PD tells TMZ ... officers responded to "The Challenge" star's home around 11:45 AM Tuesday for a welfare check involving an unresponsive person.
Police say a maintenance worker had gone into Tyler's unit after a neighbor reported excessive water coming from the apartment ... and discovered an overflowing bathtub with Tyler's body inside.
Pinkchyu has another huge musician barking for her just like Drake did ... only this time, the dog imitation is going down in her DMs.
The viral "goth baddie" tells TMZ ... a big-time musician sent her an audio recording of them barking like a dog -- and she initially thought the bizarre message had to be a joke.
Of course, the celeb appears to be taking a page out of Drizzy's playbook ... after Champagne Papi went viral barking on command for Pinkchyu during his "20-v-1" dating challenge, which she won.
