The suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson arrived back in New York this Afternoon.
Luigi Mangione was in Pennsylvania where he waived extradition in Blair County Court Today.
The State of New York requested he be sent back to Manhattan to face 11 counts stemming from the December 4th murder.
The charges include one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, according to the indictment.
Mangione is also facing four federal counts, including murder through use of a firearm, two stalking charges, and a firearms offense.
But before that could happen a Blair County Judge also conducted a preliminary hearing on the forgery and firearms charges Mangione faces here in our region.
Johnathon O’Halloran was in the courtroom today and tells us how it all unfolded.
Two hearings taking place this morning at the Blair County Courthouse for Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
One dealt with the charges Mangione faces here in Pennsylvania after being arrested at an Altoona McDonalds early last week.
The other an extradition hearing, to take Mangioni back to New York City to face murder charges.
With Pa. law restricting cameras within the courtroom, this is what we saw this morning.
Mangione entered the packed courtroom for his first hearing, newly clean shaven, keeping his head down and making no eye contact with crowd in front of him.
That crowd included 14 NYPD Officers, dressed in uniform who filled the first rows of the gallery.
Mangione’s demeanor was different then how we’ve seen him before.
Last week, Mangione was walked into the Blair County Courthouse screaming, was restless, and attempted to interrupt his attorney Thomas Dickey during proceedings.
This time, Mangione appeared calm, smiling at times with his attorney and to 3 court officers who surrounded him throughout his time in court.
Mangione ultimately has temporarily waived his preliminary hearing for those charges in Pa., but reserves the right to have that hearing at a later date.
Blair County DA Peter Weeks says despite the charges in New York, he will still prosecute the forgery and gun charges in Pennsylvania.
“There was an hour and 15 minute in between hearings where Mangione was alone at the defense table, reading a 20 page police report regarding his McDonalds arrest, mainly keeping to himself.”
The attorney’s returned for the extradition hearing, where attorney Dickey pointed out that it was now in his clients best interest to waive extradition to New York City.
The agreement now places Mangione in the hands of the NYPD.
Proceedings ended with Mangione smiling and shaking his attorneys hand before being taken away by court officers.