By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW YORK — Just six months into his job, a rookie cop with the Altoona Police Department in Pennsylvania arrested a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Officer Tyler Frye apprehended the suspect, identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9, a critical development in a case that has drawn widespread attention, ABC News reported.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared a video on X thanking Frye for making the arrest.
“He’s been on the job for six months and arrested the suspect in the shooting of Brian Thompson,” Adams said of Frye. “We’re very appreciative of the partnership between local police, state partners and the NYPD. Together, we brought him into custody and took a dangerous individual off our streets.”
Frye described the arrest, saying he and a fellow officer recognized the suspect immediately.
I spoke with Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye earlier this evening. He’s been on the job for six months and arrested the suspect in the shooting of Brian Thompson. We’re very appreciative of the partnership between local police, state partners, and the NYPD. Together, we brought… pic.twitter.com/rp7KakYESh
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) December 10, 2024
“We didn’t even think twice about it,” he said. “We knew that was our guy. It feels good to get a guy like that off the street, especially starting my career this way. It feels great.”
Mangione was found in the McDonald’s restaurant wearing a surgical mask and using a laptop, according to ABC News. Officers verified his identity after he initially presented a fake ID. A search of his belongings uncovered additional fraudulent IDs and a U.S. passport.
During his arrest, officers found a 3D-printed “ghost gun” in his backpack, along with a silencer, ammunition and a handwritten manifesto expressing hostility toward corporate America, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Mangione’s handwritten note claimed he acted alone, according to the Associated Press. The note reportedly stated, “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone.” The document also allegedly contained an unsettling justification for his actions, reading, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Ben Shapiro also commended Frye for his work in the arrest, as well as the person who spotted Mangione at McDonald’s and called in the tip, KDKA reported.
“I want to begin by thanking our fellow Pennsylvania resident who acted as a hero today,” Shapiro said. “A Pennsylvania resident saw something early this morning at McDonald’s and said something to our local police.”
“Safety often turns on the strength of the relationship between the community and law enforcement,” Shapiro continued. “We have that strong relationship here in Altoona, and it was proven here today.”
Investigation uncovers new details
At Mangione’s arraignment, while trying to determine whether he could be released on bail, prosecutors shared that he was also in possession of a Faraday bag and a large amount of cash, Newsweek reported.
Faraday bags are used to block outside signals to electronic devices, according to the report. Mangione stated that he had only used the bags to prevent water damage, not to evade police capture.
He also denied having $8,000 in U.S. cash and $2,000 in foreign currency on his person, which officers stated they found after his arrest. He suggested the money may have been planted, according to the report. Mangione also stated he was in possession of a Faraday bag because it was waterproof.
Suspect in custody
The arrest came five days after the brazen shooting. Mangione, a former high school valedictorian with no known criminal record, faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a forged instrument, according to ABC News.
Authorities say the breakthrough in the case came early in the investigation when detectives obtained surveillance footage of the suspect at a nearby Starbucks. The NYPD released images to the public, which quickly circulated and led to crucial tips, according to the report.
“The combination of old-school detective work and new-age technology is what led to this result today,” Tisch said.
