Police had doubts about the tip that resulted in the arrest of Luigi Mangione

A Pennsylvania police officer revealed in a Manhattan courtroom that he and his supervisor initially doubted a tip about Luigi Mangione being seen at a local McDonald's, even joking about the possibility it involved the suspected shooter.

Officer Joseph Detwiler testified on Tuesday that the tip ultimately resulted in Mangione's arrest for the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Wilson in New York last December. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal murder charges and appeared in court for a second day of pretrial hearings to determine whether evidence collected during his arrest will be allowed in trial.

According to Detwiler, text messages exchanged with his lieutenant contained lighthearted banter about the tip. "He said, 'if you get the New York City shooter, I'll buy you a hoagie from a local restaurant.' I replied, 'Consider it done,'" Detwiler said.

The tip was initially reported to a 911 dispatcher by the manager of the Altoona McDonald's, who noted that customers believed they had spotted the suspect. Police bodycam footage and audio from the incident were played in court during the multi-day hearing, which is expected to feature several defense witnesses.

Mangione was apprehended days after allegedly shooting a father of two, Brian Thompson, as he entered an investors' conference in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. The attack triggered an interstate manhunt and renewed discussions over the U.S. for-profit health insurance industry.

Detwiler and his partner were sent to the restaurant to investigate the tip. Though initially skepticalDescribing his response as "semi-sarcastic"Detwiler quickly realized the information was accurate. He spotted a man matching the description: a large coat, brown beanie, and medical mask, seated near the bathrooms. Upon approaching, he requested identification, which was false, then asked the man to remove his mask, immediately recognizing Mangione.

Footage shown in court depicted Mangione eating hash browns and a steak sandwich while Christmas music played. Detwiler, who could be heard whistling along, described his efforts as "trying to keep things calm and normal."

To maintain control until backup arrived, officers told Mangione they were verifying his ID while fabricating a story about a restaurant loitering policy. Mangione had been inside the McDonald's for approximately 40 minutes before his arrest.

Mangiones defense team is seeking to exclude evidence, including a 9mm firearm and a notebook purportedly detailing his motive. They are also attempting to prevent the federal government from pursuing the death penalty. Attorney Karen Agnifilo questioned Detwiler about how Mangione was identified, highlighting that the dispatch call was low-priority and the officers approached the restaurant without using lights or sirens.

Author: Sophia Brooks