Luigi Mangione agreed to be extradited to New York City on Thursday to face murder charges in the brutal killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — following a court hearing in Pennsylvania where at least 100 protesters marched against the accused killer. Came to support.
Mangione, 26, is expected to arrive in Manhattan later Thursday, where he faces an 11-count indictment brought against him by state prosecutors in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of Thompson outside the Hilton in Midtown.
,“New York is prepared to do whatever it takes to hold the killer accountable.” Governor Kathy Hochul said after the indictments were released.
is also a Manhattan federal prosecutor Mangione is expected to be charged. On murder, sources said.
Mangione spoke only “yes” and “no” when addressed by the judge during the hearing in Hollidaysburg.
When his local lawyer, Thomas Dickie, asked if he wanted to waive his extradition, he said “yes”.
Outside the Blair County Courthouse, protesters waved “Free Luigi” and anti-insurance signs as he arrived for his extradition hearing.
“Health insurance practices terrorize people,” one sign read, a reference to terror charges that prosecutors are considering filing against Mangione.
Another sign read, “Murder for profit is terrorism, free Luigi.”
Adam Giesemann, 33, of Piqua, Ohio, said he joined protesters outside the courthouse because of the notorious nature of the case and the light it has shed on America’s health insurance system.
“I think our country is broken and people don’t care about the working class. If what has been alleged is true, then he should face the consequences of what he has been handed down, but I am glad he brought attention to the fact that our country is broken.
Others hailed Mangione as a “hero” for killing Thompson, a father of two, and a chaotic five-day manhunt led to outrage across the country, until he was shot at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was not arrested. , on 9 December.
Several signs seen outside the courthouse also bore the anti-health insurance company slogan, “Reject, Delay, Depose.”
The use of the three-word slogan skyrocketed in popularity after it was reported that ammunition recovered at a Manhattan murder scene had ominous messages written on it.
These words appear to be a criticism of health care companies’ alleged schemes to limit medical claims in the pursuit of profits — and a reference to the 2010 book “Delay, Deny, Avoid: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do.” Can be based on the title. Do about it.”
Mangione is expected to be waived of extradition during the hearing and taken back to Manhattan to face an “extremely rare” first-degree murder charge in the killing of Thompson, who was shot in front of the Hilton Hotel in Midtown. Was.
Once back in the Big Apple, Mangione is scheduled to appear before Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Gregory Caro on an 11-count indictment, a court source confirmed to The Post.
Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a prominent Maryland family, faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted of murder as an act of terrorism.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Mangione was convicted of the upgraded charges because the December 4 crime – in which Thompson was shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown – was “intended to incite terrorism.”
While first-degree charges are typically filed in cases involving victims who are law enforcement members or potential witnesses to crimes, which Thompson is not, legal experts told The Post that the charge is somewhat of a “reach.” .
Mangione is facing two counts of second-degree murder in addition to multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree forgery. He faces a 25-year sentence on the second-degree murder charge.
(Tags to translate) Metro (T) US News (T) Murders (T) Brian Thompson (T) Luigi Mangione
