HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (1010 WINS/AP) — Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan street this month was brought back to New York on Thursday to face new federal charges.
HERE'S THE LATEST:
1:30 PM -- Shackled Mangione heads to courthouse
Photos show a shackled Mangione surrounded by law enforcement—including members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force—as he is escorted from the helipad to a federal courthouse.
1 PM -- Helicopter carrying Mangione lands in NYC
An NYPD helicopter carrying Mangione arrived at a Lower Manhattan helipad shortly before 1 p.m. ahead of a federal court appearance later in the afternoon.
There was a heavy NYPD presence outside the federal courthouse, as supporters of Mangione and members of the media descended on the area, and as curious passersby looked on.
“We wanted to personally be here to show the symbolism of leading from the front, of the apprehension,” Mayor Eric Adams said from the helipad. “Some of the detectives will finally sleep tonight after this person has been brought to justice here in New York City.”
Adams described the shooting as an act of terrorism that wouldn't be tolerated in the city. "Anyone that celebrates that, it is vile," the mayor said.
The newly unsealed federal complaint quotes some of the writings in a notebook prosecutors say was found on Mangione, expressing “hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”
An entry from Aug. 15 said “the target is insurance” because “it checks every box,” according to the filing, while an Oct. 22 entry “describes an intent to ‘wack’ the CEO of one of the insurance companies at its investor conference.”
“This investor conference is a true windfall ... and — most importantly — the message becomes self evident,” the notebook entry read, according to the complaint.
12:30 PM -- Mangione lands on Long Island, faces federal charges
The small NYPD plane carrying Mangione landed at MacArthur Airport in Suffolk County shortly after noon Thursday.
The airport is over 50 miles east of Lower Manhattan, but he's expected to be transported by NYPD helicopter back to the city, where he's set to be booked and arraigned on state charges.
Word of the touchdown on Long Island came shortly after federal prosecutors unsealed a complaint charging him with two counts of stalking and one count each of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense.
It's unclear when he'll be in court on the federal charges. A courtroom had been set aside in a Manhattan federal courthouse for Mangione’s appearance and an overflow courtroom was designated as a location for people to watch the proceeding on video in the event there are more people than can fit in the courtroom.
Mangione also faces state charges in Pennsylvania, but those charges were put on hold so he could be taken back to New York.
11:30 AM -- Mangione on small NYPD plane back to NYC
Mangione boarded a small plane used by the NYPD and was bound for the New York area late Thursday morning.
Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks said he wanted to turn Mangione over to New York authorities as soon as possible. Weeks said he was willing to put Pennsylvania charges on hold to do so.
“He is now in their custody. He will go forth with New York to await trial or prosecution for his homicide and related charges in New York," Weeks said.
11:15 AM -- Supporters gathered outside courthouses
Supporters of Mangione, many expressing issues with the health care industry, gathered outside the courthouse while he was there.
According to reports, dozens of people turned out to show their support for the alleged killer. Photos show some of them referencing Luigi from the Mario games with signs like "Free Luigi" and "Health insurance practices terrorize people!"
Protesters were also seen outside Manhattan Criminal Court in Lower Manhattan ahead of Mangione's expected appearance there later in the day. The NYPD was seen putting up barricades nearby.
11 AM -- NYPD escorts Mangione for flight back to NYC
Mangione was escorted into a vehicle by members of the NYPD as he left the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, for his flight back to New York City to face murder charges after waiving an extradition hearing.
Mangione appeared calm and was dressed in an orange jail getup as he got into a black SUV at what appeared to be the same court entrance where he yelled at reporters and struggled with officers last week.
10:05 AM -- Mangione agrees to extradition to NYC
Mangione waived his right to an extradition hearing and is expected arrive in New York City later Thursday to face murder charges.
Blair County Judge David Consiglio ordered Mangione be turned over to the NYPD; at least a dozen uniformed NYPD officers were in the courtroom.
He's expected to be flown back to the city, where he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4.
Mangione also waived a preliminary hearing on charges brought by Pennsylvania in exchange for the prosecutor giving him a 20-page investigative report from the Altoona Police Department.
9:30 AM -- Court personnel in NY prepare for potential arraignment
Court personnel in New York are preparing for a potential arraignment Thursday of Mangione, though any potential federal action could change the situation, a source told 1010 WINS.
A source also said federal prosecutors would likely not hold a news conference and could just file or announce charges against Mangione.
8:45 AM -- Mangione arrives at Pennsylvania court for hearings
Mangione arrived at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, in the morning for several hearings. He was greeted outside by dozens of supporters and people protesting the health insurance industry.
A preliminary hearing on forgery and firearms charges and consideration of a fugitive from justice complaint against Mangione may not take long.
He is expected to waive extradition, clearing the way for his return to New York City, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
If a judge authorizes his extradition, Mangione would then be brought to New York, where he could appear in state court for arraignment Thursday afternoon or Friday.
Mangione is also expected to face federal charges from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, according to multiple reports, though it's not yet clear what those charges would be.
7:30 AM -- DA in PA willing to put charges on fold for Manhattan DA
The district attorney in Blair County, Pennsylvania, Pete Weeks, has said he was willing to put the Pennsylvania charges on hold while the Manhattan D.A. prosecutes Mangione for the Dec. 4 killing of Thompson. Mangione faces charges of murder as an act of terrorism in New York.
Weeks said he would not talk about what might happen at the Thursday hearings or if evidence will be presented. Mangione is accused of giving police a fake New Jersey identification and having a gun and silencer in his bag.
“Those are decisions that rest exclusively with Mr. Mangione and the rights afforded to him,” Weeks wrote in a news release sent out Tuesday.
In a court filing last week, Mangione defense attorney Tom Dickey argued prosecutors hadn't shown there's sufficient evidence to hold Mangione, that he was in New York when Thompson was killed or that he is a fugitive from justice.
Mangione, of Maryland, was arrested on Dec. 9 when police were called to a McDonald's restaurant on a commercial strip in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after he was reported to match the description of Thompson's killer.
Thompson was gunned down on the street as he walked to the New York Hilton, where his Minnesota-based company was holding an investor conference. The shooting was captured on security video, but the suspect eluded police before Mangione was captured about 277 miles west of New York.
Authorities say Mangione was carrying the gun used to kill Thompson, a passport, a fake ID and about $10,000 in U.S. and foreign currency. His lawyer, Dickey, has questioned the evidence for the forgery charge and the legal basis for a gun charge.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.