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Judicial hearings in Manhattan on that day revealed that police officers connected to the capture of Luigi Mangione were so skeptical of a lead on his location that they bantered about a prize hoagie in SMS exchanges.

"My supervisor stated, 'should you get the New York City shooter, I’ll purchase you a sub from a nearby restaurant,'" testified Officer Joseph Detwiler of the Altoona, Pennsylvania force. "I said, 'Regard it accomplished.'"

In under an hour, Detwiler learned that this seemingly spurious lead was accurate.

A Apprehension at a Quick-Service Eatery

Mangione was captured in Pennsylvania at a McDonald's on 9 December 2024 in relation to the murder of the United HealthCare CEO. The CEO's death on a New York City street on the prior date had ignited a sprawling manhunt and stoked public anger.

In response to dispatch's instructions, Detwiler and a colleague went to the McDonald's. "Upon arrival, I saw the man seated at a booth inside, near the restrooms," Detwiler said. The man was wearing a large jacket, tan hat and blue medical mask, exactly as the tipster had described.

Detwiler inquired of the man for his name and explained that "a person contacted authorities, they thought you were acting suspiciously". He requested ID, which the man provided. This identification would later be revealed as fake.

Detwiler also asked the man to lower his face covering. "At that moment, I knew it was him instantly," Detwiler said.

Legal Hearings and Evidence Challenge

Detwiler's account came on the second day of a possibly weeklong proceeding about whether proof was collected improperly during the suspect's encounter with officers. The defense lawyers have consistently argued for the exclusion of evidence obtained during his detention, claiming he was not immediately advised of his legal protections.

The audio recording chronicling Detwiler's call was played in court.

"There's a male in the restaurant that looks like the New York City shooter," police dispatch informed Detwiler.

Detwiler responded: "10-4. We will be on that."

When asked about his tone, Detwiler explained, "I was being somewhat flippant when I responded. Frankly, I did not think it was going to be the individual that they suspected it was."

A Moments After Recognition

Detwiler testified he "stayed calm" after identifying the suspect and called his supervisor. "Yes, he's present. It's him," Detwiler remembered stating.

On the phone conversation, Detwiler insisted that he wasn't kidding. "He was taken aback, because he was the one who sent me the text message when we got the call," referencing the free sandwich.

Detwiler attempted to behave as casually as possible, telling the man that officers were there over reports that he had been lingering too long. Officer-worn footage depicted the suspect consuming food.

"I asked him if it was a particular menu item," Detwiler stated. Mangione responded with a sound. "I remarked it was my preferred item." His goal, he explained, was "just trying to keep things calm and routine."

The Significance of the Mask

How much of a role the suspect's mask had in drawing attention is debatable.

When asked about mask culture in Altoona, Detwiler said, "We do not wear face coverings. We have antibodies."

And because "no one uses masks" there, Detwiler understood the man they would later confirm as the suspect was the individual who had prompted concern. "The individual had a mask on," Detwiler testified. "Therefore he must have been the man we were called there for."

Defense Cross-Examination

Karen Agnifilo, among Mangione's counsel, cross-examined Detwiler once the state concluded its inquiry. She pressed on details surrounding his identification of her client.

Agnifilo highlighted that the radio transmission was labeled as "not urgent". "The call did not seem urgent on the dispatch, no," Detwiler agreed. She also pointed out that lights and sirens were not used.

Agnifilo implied through her line of inquiry that the timing of the positive ID seemed off. "So, in that instant, a couple of seconds into seeing him, you know: he's the NYC murder suspect?"

Detwiler reiterated that he knew. "No uncertainty in my mind."

Agnifilo also sought to suggest that her client was detained without being apprised of his Miranda rights. She questioned the police's physical position in the McDonald's, implying they were positioned to block Mangione from exiting.

Detwiler said that he and his partner required room. "We're not going to stand beside each other and hold each other's hands."