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NEW YORK (WABC) — The suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is fighting extradition from Pennsylvania, but sources tell ABC News that prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury.
An indictment could strengthen the case for extradition, which 26-year-old Luigi Mangione is fighting.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg would not discuss the evidence in detail, but he did express confidence in the case he is building.
“This is clearly a profound and deeply disturbing situation as we have alleged murder,” Bragg said. “We wouldn’t charge the person if we don’t think it’s the person and we’re prepared to move forward.”
Governor Kathy Hochul said she expects an extradition warrant to be issued “any day now,” which she will sign “as soon as that happens” and then work with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to have Mangione extradited to New York.
“I want to get him back here in New York State and get him through our criminal justice system because that horrific attack happened on our streets and the people of our city deserve to have that sense of calm that this perpetrator has been caught.” and will never see the light of day if there is justice,” Hochul said. “You can’t kill an individual on the streets of New York, not now, not ever.”
The Ivy League graduate remains locked up in a Pennsylvania state prison after a judge denied bail Tuesday.
“He has constitutional rights and that’s what he’s doing” by challenging the interstate transfer, attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters Tuesday.
Mangione was apprehended Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after nearly a week on the run following the Dec. 4 killing.
The evidence includes fingerprints removed from a water bottle and a granola bar package found in Midtown. Police say they match prints taken by Mangione after his arrest in Altoona.
Additionally, NYPD says ballistics of the ghost gun Mangione was carrying correspond to three shell casings recovered from the crime scene.
Authorities also say Mangione was too with writings linking him to the murder.
In Pennsylvania, Mangione is accused of possessing an untraceable ghost gun.
In New York he is charged with, among other things, second-degree murder.
ABC News asked Bragg why Mangione is being charged with manslaughter and it appears to be a quirk of the way the New York statute is written.
He says first-degree murder is reserved for special categories such as baby killers, cop killers and serial killers, but prosecutors have left open the possibility that if they learn more, additional charges could follow.
Lucy Yang has a detailed report on the events leading up to Mangione’s arrest on Monday.
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