Police Apprehend Person of Interest in Midtown Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Police in Pennsylvania have apprehended a person of interest in the Midtown assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel last week, police confirmed on Monday.
Details of the Arrest
Luigi Mangione, 26, was arraigned in a Pennsylvania courtroom Monday evening on gun charges, during which more details about the high-profile arrest came to light.
According to a copy of the arraignment obtained by amNewYork Metro, officers from the Altoona Police Department were dispatched to a McDonald’s restaurant on East Plank Road at about 9:14 a.m. on Dec. 9 after a worker there recognized Mangione from photos disseminated by news outlets.
The Arrest
Mangione sat at a table in the back of the McDonald’s scrolling through a silver laptop with a backpack sitting on the floor beside him; he was also wearing a blue medical mask, on-record statements revealed.
A responding officer asked Mangione if he could see his face, to which the alleged killer obliged, yanking the mask down. Prosecutors said the cop immediately recognized Mangione and asked him for identification.
Mangione allegedly looked to throw police off his trail, however, by providing them with a fake New Jersey driver’s license with the name Mark Rosario.
While the officers ran the information through their dispatch center, one of them asked if he had been to New York recently. According to court statements, Mangione reportedly did not answer and started to shake.
Search and Charges
As a lieutenant arrived on the scene, prosecutors said, the growing number of cops warned Mangione that he would be arrested if continued to lie to them about his identity. Seemingly backed into a corner, Mangione finally gave the cops his real name.
When asked why he lied to them he replied: “I clearly shouldn’t have.”
Mangione was handcuffed and searched. Inside his backpack, cops located a black 3D-printed pistol and a black 3D-printed silencer. The pistol had a metal slide, a plastic handle, and a metal threaded barrel. It had one loaded Glock magazine with six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds. There was also one loose nine-millimeter hollow point round in the bag.
Mangione has been charged with forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime, and false identification to law enforcement.
Investigation and Extradition
NYPD sources say they are awaiting extradition proceedings before Mangione can be sent back to the Big Apple to face murder charges.
Conclusion
The arrest of Luigi Mangione brings an end to a five-day manhunt for the suspected assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to piece together the events surrounding the targeted killing.
FAQs
Q: Who is Luigi Mangione?
A: Luigi Mangione is the 26-year-old man arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the Midtown assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Q: What was Mangione’s motive for the killing?
A: The motive behind the killing is still unclear, but police believe it was a targeted attack.
Q: What was found in Mangione’s backpack?
A: Police found a black 3D-printed pistol and a black 3D-printed silencer in Mangione’s backpack.
Q: What charges is Mangione facing?
A: Mangione has been charged with forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime, and false identification to law enforcement.
Q: Will Mangione be extradited to New York?
A: NYPD sources say they are awaiting extradition proceedings before Mangione can be sent back to the Big Apple to face murder charges.
