Pennsylvania police officers were so sceptical about a tip that led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, that they joked about a reward sandwich, Manhattan court proceedings revealed on Tuesday.
Officer Joseph Detwiler testified that his supervisor texted him, saying, 'if you get the New York City shooter, I’ll buy you a hoagie from a local restaurant.' Detwiler responded, 'Consider it done.' Within an hour, the tip from a McDonald's manager proved true, and Mangione was arrested on 9 December 2024 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Detwiler described how he and another officer approached Mangione, who was wearing a large coat, brown beanie, and blue medical mask. The officer asked him to lower his mask and instantly recognised him. Mangione provided a fake ID but was taken into custody. He faces federal and state charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Mangione's lawyers are seeking to exclude evidence from the arrest, arguing he was not immediately informed of his constitutional rights. The court proceedings are expected to last a week, examining whether evidence was gathered illegally.
