New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Dec. 10 that she would sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure that Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, would be “held accountable” in New York.
“I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” she said in a statement.
“I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable.”
Mangione appeared in a Pennsylvania court on Dec. 10; his attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client wanted a hearing on extradition.
Thompson was shot and killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, New York City, on Dec. 4.
Mangione was apprehended at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9.
A Pennsylvania police complaint alleged that Mangione committed forgery, carried a firearm without a license, tampered with records or identification, possessed instruments of crime, and falsely identified himself to law enforcement.
On Dec. 10, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said it would seek a governor’s warrant.
“Grateful to every person in law enforcement who is helping solve this horrific case.”
Her comments came alongside condemnation from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who described the shooting as “horrific” and said “violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable.”
Court of Common Pleas of Blair County Judge David Consiglio denied bail for Mangione and issued an order on Dec. 10 stating that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had 30 days to obtain a governor’s warrant.
The order also stated that Mangione would remain an inmate at the state correctional institution SCI-Huntingdon and that he had 14 days to obtain a writ of habeas corpus, which is a way of challenging one’s detention.
A felony warrant from New York cited Altoona police stating that written admissions to the crime were found in Mangione’s belongings.
The Associated Press also obtained a law enforcement bulletin that said that Mangione was likely motivated by anger toward health insurance companies.
The law enforcement bulletin said that Mangione described Ted Kaczynski, the “Unabomber,” as a political revolutionary and that Mangione’s targeting of Thompson appeared to be symbolic.
It also said Mangione described health care companies as parasitic and wrote about how profits increased while life expectancy didn’t.
In court on Dec. 10, Mangione, 26, stared ahead but began to speak at one point before being quieted by his lawyer. As he arrived at court, Mangione shouted and struggled with officers.
“Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione,” the statement read.
“We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
