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Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, waived extradition Thursday, paving the way for his transport to New York the criminal charges brought against him.
Mangione, 26, appeared in a Blair County, Pennsylvania, court Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing on his state charges and a second hearing immediately afterward for his extradition to New York. A small group of people gathered outside the courthouse, some holding signs expressing support for him.
Mangione will now likely be transferred to a New York prison where he awaits arraignment.
Mangione was arraigned on Tuesday by a New York grand jury on 11 counts: one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism; two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is charged as “homicide as an act of terrorism”; seven counts of criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of possession of a forged instrument.
He also faces two felony and three misdemeanor charges in Pennsylvania, where he has been held since his arrest on Dec. 9.
Mangione's attorney in Pennsylvania, Thomas Dickey, said Mangione will plead not guilty to all charges. Dickey initially said Mangione would fight extradition to New York, which could have potentially delayed his transfer for several weeks. However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said last week that there were “indications” that Mangione would not oppose extradition.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.