HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to waive extradition to New York City, a source within the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office told ABC News. The source said Mangione could waive extradition as early as Tuesday.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson on Dec. 4 outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan before fleeing the city within an hour. He was identified as a suspect after being reported to Blair County 911 based on facial recognition. The Altoona Police Department arrested him Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Authorities say Mangione was in possession of a large amount of cash, both domestic and foreign, at the time of his arrest. Police also allegedly found a 3D-printed “ghost gun” with a silencer and ammunition, as well as a fake driver’s license linked to a hostel check-in in Manhattan. Mangione also reportedly had faraday bags, which are used to block electronic signals from devices. Mangione disputed the relevance of the cash and faraday bags during a preliminary arraignment.
The NYPD says the gun found with Mangione matched shell casings from the crime scene and that fingerprint and DNA evidence link him to the killing. Investigators also released surveillance images showing a man resembling Mangione checking into a hostel and getting into a taxi after the shooting.
Mangione has retained the services of Altoona-based attorney Thomas M. Dickey, a well-known federal and criminal defense lawyer. In New York, Mangione has hired Karen Friedman, a former Manhattan chief assistant district attorney who now works as a private criminal defense attorney.
Online, Mangione has gained support from individuals frustrated with the insurance industry and claim denials, with some viewing him as a martyr.
Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO, was under federal investigation for alleged insider trading involving $120 million. The Florida Firefighters Pension Fund discovered suspicious activity in May 2024 and referred the matter to the Department of Justice for further investigation.
