United Healthcare CEO shooting: Luigi Mangione to plead not guilty, lawyer expects

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with shooting of United Healthcare CEO Bryan Thompson, will fight his extradition to New York and is expected to plead not guilty to charges against him there — his lawyer told reporters on Tuesday.

Mangione was first charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police in Pennsylvania late on Monday after being recognised in a McDonalds.

The Ivy League graduate will plead not guilty to the charges against him in Pennsylvania and will fight his extradition to New York, his lawyer Tom Dickey said.

Dickey added he expects Mangione to also plead not guilty to separate murder charges in New York, where Thompson died after he was shot outside a hotel.

Mangione's decision to contest his extradition could delay the process by days or months as noted by the New York TImes.

“You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” Dickey said. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that".

In his first public appearance since he was charged, Mangione resisted authorities, shouting unintelligibly and writhing in the grip of sheriff’s deputies as he was led into court.

As he emerged from the police car Mangione shouted “insult to the intelligence of the American people” as he was pushed inside a courthouse. It is unclear what Mangione was referring to.

During his initial hearing, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead, occasionally looking at papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery.

At the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called "parasitic" health insurance companies. He argued the US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that companies have seen