PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The person who saw it Luigi Mangione — the suspect in the New York killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is a “hero,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday.
At a joint news conference Monday evening, leaders including Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks and Shapiro provided an update on the case after Mangione was indicted on several charges unrelated to Thompson’s death. According to court documents, Mangione faces a list of charges including forgery, firearms not to be carried without a permit and false identification to law enforcement authorities.
Mangione was taken into custody after officers were called to a McDonald’s on East Plank Road around 9 a.m. Monday for reports of a person matching the description of the possible suspect in Thompson’s shooting on December 4. At the time, he was considered a person of interest in the case.
During Monday’s news conference, Shapiro said the person who notified law enforcement “acted like a hero.”
“I want to start by thanking our fellow Pennsylvania native who acted like a hero today,” Shapiro said. “A Pennsylvania resident saw something at McDonald’s early this morning and said something to our local police.”
Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said a customer at McDonald’s first noticed Mangione before notifying an employee. That employee then called 911.
“The customer recognized it, notified an employee and wanted someone to investigate further,” Bivens said.
Shapiro said officers with the Altoona Police Department acted “quickly” Monday, and he called on the community to come forward with any information related to the investigation.
“I would like to ask all of our fellow Pennsylvanians to show the same kind of thoughtfulness, courage and smarts as the person at McDonald’s this morning, and assist law enforcement here in Pennsylvania as we continue our investigation,” Shapiro said.
Jude Hatch lives 10 minutes from the McDonald’s on East Plank Road in Altoona. The arrest shocked him.
“It’s kind of bizarre,” Hatch said. “Like, here from my places. Why here?”
I love history,” he added. ‘And this is history. That’s why I wanted to be here.”
Shapiro praises the officer who helped arrest Luigi Mangione
Shapiro took time during Monday’s press conference to praise Officer Tyler Frye at the Altoona Police Department.
Frye, who has been with the department for about six months, and his partner responded to the McDonald’s after the 911 call. Frye said that as soon as Mangione took off his mask, he “instantly recognized him.”
“We didn’t even think about it,” he said. “We knew this was our guy.”
“It feels good to take someone like that off the street, especially starting my career this way,” he added. “It feels great.”
Shapiro highlighted the relationship between the police department and the Altoona community as the reason for the arrest.
“Safety often depends on the strength of the relationship between the community and law enforcement,” he said. “We have that strong relationship here in Altoona, and that was proven here today.”
Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, Facetimed Frye on Monday, according to a video posted to his X account.
“You took a dangerous person off the streets, and we thank you very much,” Adams told the rookie police officer.
Adams is a former officer with the New York City Police Department.
Luigi Mangione was in Pittsburgh, officials said
Authorities said Monday they believe Mangione traveled from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh after the shooting in New York.
“It is likely he was in several locations across the state, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and points in between,” Bivens said.
Authorities provided no details Monday about where or when he was in Pittsburgh.
Spokespeople for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department and Pittsburgh Public Safety said they were not involved in the investigation and had not been notified that Mangione was in Pittsburgh.
