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Officer recounts scepticism before arrest
A Pennsylvania police officer testified in a Manhattan courtroom that he and his supervisor initially dismissed a tip about the suspected shooter of a high-profile CEO as a joke before ultimately making the arrest.
Tip leads to arrest of Luigi Mangione
Joseph Detwiler, an Altoona police officer, told the court on Tuesday that he responded to a 911 call from a McDonald's manager in Altoona who reported customers believed they had spotted Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December.
Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges, was in court for the second day of a pretrial hearing to determine whether evidence from his arrest will be admissible at trial.
Text messages reveal initial doubt
Detwiler testified that he exchanged text messages with his lieutenant before responding to the call, joking about the tip's credibility. "He said, 'If you get the New York City shooter, I'll buy you a hoagie from a local restaurant,'" Detwiler recounted. "I said: 'Consider it done.'"
Despite his scepticism, Detwiler and his partner were dispatched to the fast-food restaurant. He described his tone as "semi-sarcastic" when acknowledging the call but said he quickly realized the tip was legitimate.
Arrest details emerge in court
Detwiler told the court he spotted a man matching the description-wearing a large coat, brown beanie, and medical mask-sitting near the bathrooms, just as the tipster had reported. He approached the man, asked for identification, and confirmed it was fake before requesting he remove his mask, immediately recognizing Mangione.
Body camera footage played in court showed Mangione eating hash browns and a steak sandwich while Christmas music played in the background. Detwiler, who could be heard whistling along, testified he was "trying to keep things calm and normal."
Detwiler admitted to misleading Mangione, claiming they were verifying his ID while waiting for backup. He also fabricated a story about the restaurant's loitering policy to keep Mangione at the scene, where he had been for about 40 minutes.
Defence challenges evidence admissibility
Mangione's legal team is seeking to exclude key evidence, including a 9mm gun and a notebook prosecutors say outlines a motive. They argue Mangione was not immediately informed of his rights after the arrest.
Defence attorney Karen Agnifilo questioned Detwiler about the identification process, noting the dispatch call was treated as "low-priority." Detwiler agreed the call "didn't sound serious on the radio" and confirmed officers did not use lights or sirens when approaching the McDonald's.
Background on the shooting
Mangione was arrested days after the December 4, 2024, shooting of Thompson, a father of two, as he arrived at an investors' conference on a busy Manhattan street. The incident triggered an interstate manhunt and reignited debates over the U.S. for-profit health insurance industry.
The pretrial hearing is expected to continue for several days as the defence plans to call multiple witnesses.
