The suspect in the shooting case of a U.S. healthcare executive has pleaded guilty to the stalking charges.

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, pleaded guilty on the 14th to federal stalking charges. During his testimony at a federal court in New York that day, Mangione admitted to shooting Thompson. The federal judge has set his sentencing date for December 18. Mangione currently faces both federal and state charges, and media sources believe his plea is aimed at seeking the dismissal of the first-degree murder charge in New York State and delaying the trial process.