Luigi Mangione, the suspect indicted in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, waived his right to an extradition hearing and is expected to be flown back to New York as early as Thursday to face multiple charges.
Mangione appeared in Blair County, Pennsylvania, court Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing and to address extradition.
Mangione was attentive during the proceeding, which lasted about an hour, and appeared to smile with his attorney.
Supporters of Mangione were seen outside the court house earlier Thursday morning, some carrying signs that said “Free Luigi.” He is being held at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
Mangione was indicted Tuesday by New York prosecutors on 11 counts in connection with the ambush shooting of Thompson, who was shot on Dec. 4 as he was walking in front of a Midtown Manhattan hotel to speak at a conference.
A source familiar with the situation told NBC News on Tuesday that Mangione planned to waive extradition, meaning he wouldn’t contest being transferred to another jurisdiction to face charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday at a news conference that his office had gotten indication that Mangione would waive extradition and that Mangione will be “brought to New York forthwith.”
Following the announcement of the indictment, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on X Wednesday morning, “New York stands ready to do whatever it takes to hold the killer accountable.”
“We’ve heard reports that the defendant will waive his extradition rights. If not, I am prepared to request a governor’s warrant as soon as possible to ensure he is held and tried in New York,” she added.
The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate had been arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9 following a five-day manhunt. He was charged in Pennsylvania with felony counts of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license, and a misdemeanor count of using fraudulent identification.
New York police have said that Mangione may have targeted Thompson because UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest private health insurers in the country. Mangione had suffered a painful “life-altering injury” to his back, and had griped over corporate America and the health care system, according to his writings and social media presence.
The 11-count indictment out of New York charges him with first-degree murder, two counts of second degree murder — one of which is charged as a killing in the act of terrorism; two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, Bragg said in a statement.
Mangione’s Pennsylvania attorney, Thomas Dickey, has said he would plead not guilty in the New York and Pennsylvania cases.
Federal prosecutors are also looking into whether to charge Mangione, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News Wednesday.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, one of the attorneys representing Mangione on the New York charges, said Wednesday night that they “are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought.”
“The federal government’s reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns,” she said.