A New York grand jury has reportedly started reviewing evidence in the case against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. The legal proceedings mark a significant step as prosecutors build their case against the 26-year-old suspect.

Mangione remains in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested on gun-related charges, as his lawyer, Thomas Dickey, fights his extradition to New York. Dickey has argued that he has not seen conclusive evidence linking Mangione’s firearm to the crime.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed her commitment to ensuring Mangione faces justice in New York. “That horrific attack occurred on our streets,” she stated, emphasizing the need for accountability to restore public safety.

Authorities are also focusing on Mangione’s movements after the crime. Initially, investigators believed he fled New York by bus. However, new evidence suggests he may have taken the subway to Penn Station, where he boarded a train to Pennsylvania.

Mangione is currently held under maximum security at the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. On Thursday, he was denied bail, reinforcing the seriousness of the charges against him.

Mass rallies have erupted in Sweida, a city near Syria’s southern border with Jordan, marking the first Friday since rebel forces seized control, ending President Bashar al-Assad’s 13-year rule. Crowds of jubilant Syrians filled the streets, waving opposition flags and chanting revolutionary songs reminiscent of the 2011 protests that ignited the country’s civil war.

The atmosphere was both festive and reflective, with some participants dressed in costumes, such as one attendee in a Spongebob Squarepants outfit, standing alongside heavily armed fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The Islamist group played a pivotal role in Assad’s downfall and maintains a visible presence at the celebrations.

Today’s rallies follow Friday prayers at the historic Umayyad Mosque, where Syria’s interim prime minister, Mohammad al-Bashir, addressed worshippers. Al-Bashir, who has been thrust into leadership amid the sweeping changes, was warmly received by the crowd as he called for unity and pledged to steer the country toward peace and reconstruction.

Sweida, a city known for its majority Druze population, has long been a hotspot for dissent against Assad’s government. Its streets now reflect a sense of renewal, with demonstrators expressing hope for a brighter future under the newly formed leadership.

The toppling of the Assad regime marks a seismic shift in Syria’s political landscape, bringing an end to years of war and oppression. However, challenges remain, as factions within the opposition must now navigate the complexities of governance and ensure stability in the war-torn nation.

Authorities have reportedly matched fingerprints found at the crime scene of healthcare executive Brian Thompson’s fatal shooting to 26-year-old suspect Luigi Mangione, according to US media. This marks the first forensic link connecting Mangione to the targeted killing that occurred outside a Manhattan hotel last week.

Mangione was arrested Monday in Pennsylvania following a multi-state manhunt. He is currently being held on gun-related charges while resisting extradition to New York to face murder charges. His lawyer maintains Mangione’s innocence, stating, “He’s pleading not guilty to those offences… I haven’t seen any evidence that he is the shooter.”

The arrest followed Mangione’s identification at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. He was allegedly in possession of a firearm resembling the murder weapon, a silencer, a fake ID, and handwritten notes reportedly expressing grievances with the US healthcare system. Authorities believe these notes may serve as a claim of responsibility for the murder.

Brian Thompson, 50, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was killed by a masked assailant in what officials describe as a calculated attack. New York Police Department officials have not commented on the reported fingerprint match.

The extradition process to transfer Mangione from Pennsylvania to New York may take days or weeks due to differences in state judicial systems. Investigators continue to scrutinize evidence as Mangione faces mounting allegations tying him to the high-profile killing.