Luigi Mangione: UnitedHealthcare CEO’s suspected killer faces federal charges after waiving extradition
Brian Thompson shooting suspect formally waived extradition during a Thursday court hearing in Pennsylvania
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Luigi Mangione faces federal charges over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to newly unsealed court documents.
The charges include murder through use of a firearm, two stalking charges and a firearms offense, according to multiple outlets. The 26-year-old has also been hit with charges in New York at a state level, which include murder as an act of terrorism.
Mangione was arraigned on Thursday after he formally waived his right to an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania and was immediately returned to the Empire State.
The suspected gunman is accused of fatally shooting the healthcare executive on the streets of Midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4 and then eluding police for five days before he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
High-profile attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo has recently been retained to defend him. Agnifilo previously worked at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, serving as the chief assistant district attorney for seven years, before moving to private practice in 2021.
Mangione’s supporters continue to donate thousands of dollars to his “defense” fund. The anonymous fund, “December 4th Legal Committee”, has amassed more than $140,000 in donations on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo.
Luigi Mangione to waive extradition and return to New York to face murder charges over death of UnitedHealthcare CEO
How New York prosecutors used a terrorism law in the charges against Luigi Mangione
Luigi Mangione and the dark truth behind our reaction to his arrest
Who is Luigi Mangione: What to know about man charged with murder in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooting death
Full story: Luigi Mangione to waive extradition and return to New York
Ahead of an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday, Luigi Mangione’s lawyer has said the 26-year-old will waive his right.
Read the full story here:
Luigi Mangione to waive extradition over CEO murder and will return to New York
The 26-year-old was indicted on murder charges for an ‘act of terrorism’ in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and will appear in court in Pennsylvania on Thursday
In pictures: Luigi Mangione arrives at court in Pennsylvania
Why is Mangione being charged with murder ‘as an act of terrorism’?
Prosecutors announced on Tuesday that Luigi Mangione had been charged with murder “as an act of terrorism.”
A New York law passed after the September 11 attacks allows prosecutors to charge crimes as acts of terrorism when they're “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping.”
Prosecutors have applied the statute to various contexts. Some related to international extremism, but the law was first used against a Bronx gang member after a hail of gunfire killed a 10-year-old girl and paralyzed a man outside a christening party in 2002. The state's highest court later said the conduct didn’t amount to terrorism, and a retrial produced convictions on other charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg noted that the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson happened early on a workday in an area frequented by commuters, businesspeople and tourists.
“This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation,” the district attorney said.
Watch: Luigi Mangione charged with first-degree murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Mangione appears in Pennsylvania court for hearing
Luigi Mangione is appearing in court this morning in Pennsylvania for two hearings – one for his firearms charge in the state and the other for his extradition to New York where he was charged with first and second-degree murder.
Mangione, who has been held in Pennsylvania since being arrested, is not expected to fight extradition to New York.
Mangione’s first hearing concludes
Mangione’s first hearing, on gun charge in Pennsylvania, has concluded, according to CNN.
He will now face his second hearing, on extradition to New York.
Watch: UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione appears in Pennsylvania court for hearing
Suspect could be brought to New York right after extradition hearing
Law enforcement officials told CNN that Mangione could be flown from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania to an airport tin the New York City area directly after his extradition hearing.
The extradition hearing appears to be over.
Mangione formally waives right to extradition hearing
Luigi Mangione has formally waived his right to an extradition hearing, after being charged with murder over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
He will now return to New York to face murder charges and could be arraigned as early as this afternoon.
CNN reports that Mangione did not speak except for yes or no answers when directly addressed by the judge.
When the judge asked whether he wished to waive extradition, Mangione’s Pennsylvania lawyer Thomas Dickey turned to Mangione and asked, “That’s what you want to do?” Mangione replied, “Yes.”