Additional Coverage:
- Bodycam footage shows Luigi Mangione cracking joke as swarm of cops closes in on him at McDonald’s (foxnews.com)
Accused CEO Assassin Claims Homelessness, Used Fake ID in McDonald’s Encounter
ALTOONA, PA – In a dramatic twist during a suppression hearing on Thursday, the man accused of ambushing and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson claimed to be homeless and presented a fake driver’s license to police just five days after the murder. Luigi Mangione’s defense team is actively seeking to exclude crucial evidence from his upcoming trial.
Testimony from Altoona Police officers on the third day of the hearing revealed details of Mangione’s apprehension at a local McDonald’s. Officers Tyler Frye and Joseph Detwiler were the first to respond to a call from a McDonald’s manager reporting a suspicious individual resembling a person of interest in Thompson’s murder.
Upon arrival, officers testified that Mangione initially appeared nervous but quickly adopted a more flippant demeanor. Bodycam footage, yet to be publicly released but played in court, captured Mangione quipping, “Are you guys calling a couple more cars?” as more than a dozen officers arrived on the scene.
Officer Detwiler testified that he recognized Mangione from Fox News coverage of the assassination case immediately after asking him to lower his mask. Mangione allegedly provided a forged New Jersey driver’s license bearing the name “Mark Rosario.” His real Maryland license was later discovered among his belongings.
During the encounter, Mangione denied having recently been in New York, stating, “I’m homeless.” This claim contradicts evidence that he allegedly used the “Mark Rosario” ID to check into a Manhattan hostel prior to the December 4, 2024, murder.
Both Frye and Detwiler confirmed in court that they recognized Mangione from wanted posters circulated by the NYPD.
The alleged murder weapon, recovered from Mangione’s backpack, and personal journals are among the key pieces of evidence the defense is attempting to suppress. These journals reportedly contain criticisms of the health insurance industry and outline motivations behind the alleged plot to kill Thompson.
Prosecutors have vehemently denied claims by Mangione’s legal team that his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated by police and jail guards in Pennsylvania. Legal experts suggest that while the defense has raised valid concerns, they face a challenging battle in convincing the court to suppress the evidence.
Mangione is accused of stalking Thompson to Manhattan and shooting him in the back outside a Hilton hotel where Thompson was scheduled to attend a UnitedHealthcare investor conference. The suppression hearing continues, with Mangione reportedly laughing with his attorneys before Thursday’s proceedings, exactly one year after the alleged assassination.