Police officers in Pennsylvania immediately recognized the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect in the back of a local McDonald’s.
During a press briefing held on Monday evening, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania commended Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye for his quick actions in identifying Luigi Mangione, 26, praising him as a hero.
Governor Shapiro expressed his gratitude towards Officer Tyler Frye from the Altoona Police Department, highlighting his response as a newcomer to public service in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of acting promptly and responsibly in such situations.
He emphasized the significance of maintaining a solid relationship between the community and law enforcement for ensuring safety, citing Altoona as an example of a place where this bond has been effectively demonstrated.
Officers asked Mangione to pull down his mask and officers immediately recognized him as the suspect wanted for Thompson’s murder in NYC. Officers had seen photos of the suspect from media sources, court documents say.
Mangione gave officers a fake ID with the name Mark Rosario – police ran the ID and determined it to be fake. Officers then asked Mangione why he lied.
He replied, “I clearly shouldn’t have,” according to court documents. Mangione was then placed into custody.
Officers found a black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer in Mangione’s backpack, court documents say. The pistol had a metal slide and a plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel.
Police found a three-page document with writings suggesting that Mangione had “ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
The pistol had one loaded Glock magazine with six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds, documents said. Police said the silencer was also 3D printed.
Mangione has been charged in Pennsylvania with several crimes, according to court documents.
Asked if he needed a public defender, he asked if he could “answer that at a future date.”
He was charged 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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.