Law & Order Season 24 Episode 16 has one big difference from the Luigi Mangione case

With a story quite literally “ripped from the headlines,” Law & Order Season 24 Episode 16 took on Luigi Magione’s case… with one notable difference.

When it comes to the pinnacle of legal dramas, no TV show touches Law & Order. We’ve enjoyed the main show and its many spinoffs since 1990, with plenty of its storylines inspired by true crime.

From the Chris Brown vs. Rihanna case to a version of TLC’s 19 Kids And Counting, the binge-worthy TV show has never been afraid to take real life and make its own version on the small screen.

Now the series has done it again, but this time with the controversial Luigi Mangione case. However, you might notice one key difference from what’s been happening in real time.

Law & Order Season 24 Episode 16 goes even further than the Luigi Mangione case

It might not end with a verdict, but Law & Order Season 24 Episode 16 gets as far as the jury’s decision, which is a lot further ahead than the Luigi Mangione case is in real life.

If you are unaware, Mangione, 26, is accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. He faces multiple charges, including terrorism, stalking, carrying a ghost gun, and using a fake ID.

As it stands, Mangione’s federal case in New York has been rescheduled for April 18, though the docket doesn’t specify why. He’s yet to be indicted on federal charges, including ones that could lead to the death penalty.

Of course, postponing a trial doesn’t exactly make great television. Instead, in our fictional version, shooter Ethan is intent on killing multiple insurance company CEOs, going to trial all the way until the jury’s verdict. True to life, people are cheering him on.

Why is he doing it in the first place? Much like Mangione, to “incite social change.” OptiShield’s CEO was targeted because the company refused to pay for the drug that he believed would cure his mother’s terminal cancer. This means his lawyer Megan Stratton argues Ethan had a legal reason to kill him: our CEO caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people by denying legitimate claims, and more could have died as a result.

NBC

In the first instances of Law & Order Season 24 Episode 16, lots of these details match up. But then we get towards the end of the episode and Stratton is approached with a deal. Ethan could go to prison for second-degree murder for 15 years, instead of any life or death sentencing Mangione is currently facing.

However, Stratton will only accept dismissal, meaning it’s left up to the jury. Just as we’re about to be told Ethan’s verdict, the screen intentionally cuts to black. We never find out what happens, but it’s up to us to make our own decisions.

“I feel like this open-ended episode played incredibly well,” Jesse Metcalfe told TV Insider. “It really works for this episode. We don’t really take a stand on what the verdict should be. We allow the audience to have their own opinion. I think a lot of times when a storyline isn’t resolved, it can cause the audience a little bit of frustration. I think in this particular episode, I think it’s still incredibly satisfying, which is important.”

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