Luigi Mangione, a former Ivy League student, was arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the alleged assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Extradition for Mangione is expected to take several days.
Mangione, aged 26, was taken into custody at the Altoona Police Department after a manager at a local McDonald’s recognized him on Monday morning at around 9:15 a.m. Upon apprehension, authorities found four counterfeit IDs, a gun with a silencer similar to the one used in the shooting, and a manifesto criticizing the health insurance industry in his possession.
Following Mangione’s arrest, officials from the FBI and NYPD, led by New York Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, descended on the station. Representatives from the New York District Attorney’s Office also made their way to the scene, as confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Mangione was charged in Pennsylvania with forgery, firearms not to be carried without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and false identification to law enforcement authorities, according to a police criminal complaint.
A screenshot from surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows a person of interest wanted in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crime Stoppers )
Police in Pennsylvania can swab anyone suspected of a crime that could result in a prison sentence for DNA, per state law. If a detainee refuses to be swabbed, a judge can force their hand with a court order.
Ryan said the samples would likely be sent to either the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, or to Pennsylvania State Police facilities due to the likely limited capabilities of local police.
“My belief [is] they already have secured DNA from him, and then it’s a matter of it being tested,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of circumstantial evidence already. The DNA will be another thing that will link him to the incident [In New York City].”
“I would think it would be days [before Mangione is extradited] unless they charge him federally,” Ryan said.
Ryan commended local police for their swift response in Mangione’s capture.
“People have to give credit to that local police department also. With the number of tips that have come in, something like this is something that they could’ve very easily blown off instead of responding to,” he said. “The fact that they responded, conducted the interview and then during the interview found discrepancies that led them to recover multiple IDs and the weapon is kudos to them. Without them, we wouldn’t be having the discussion.”
