A 26-year-old man, identified as Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after he was recognized by a McDonald’s customer and employee, who believed he resembled the suspect wanted for a recent shooting in New York. Authorities say the tip led to Mangione’s capture as he was having a meal inside the fast-food restaurant.
According to police, Mangione was seated alone in the McDonald’s, wearing a mask, and accompanied only by a backpack and a laptop. When approached by two officers who inquired about his recent travels to New York, Mangione reportedly became visibly nervous, shaking and going silent. His unusual behavior prompted further investigation by the responding officers.
A subsequent search of Mangione’s backpack at the police station revealed a black “ghost gun” — an untraceable firearm assembled from individual parts — which was loaded with a magazine and fitted with a silencer. Authorities in Pennsylvania noted that the weapon, along with clothing and a mask found with Mangione, closely resembled the items seen in surveillance footage of the gunman involved in the shooting.
Following his arrest, Mangione was taken to the Blair County Courthouse in Altoona for an arraignment on charges including gun possession and forgery. When asked if he understood the charges, Mangione confirmed that he did, but he did not enter a plea at that time. Pennsylvania prosecutors highlighted that Mangione was found with a large sum of cash and multiple fraudulent identification cards, including a fake New Jersey ID that was linked to the gunman’s check-in at a Manhattan hostel prior to the shooting. Based on these findings, prosecutors argued that Mangione posed a flight risk and requested that bail be denied, a motion that was granted.
In addition to the charges in Pennsylvania, New York prosecutors have filed a murder charge against Mangione, along with four related gun charges. Police in both states are currently working to determine whether Mangione had any accomplices and whether he had plans to target additional individuals. Investigators are also examining several electronic devices found in his possession as part of the ongoing probe.
Officers revealed that Mangione, originally from Maryland, had been in Pennsylvania for several days leading up to his arrest. Authorities are continuing to investigate his movements in the state, hoping to gain further insight into his actions before the capture. Police have not yet confirmed whether Mangione intended to carry out any further attacks.
This arrest comes after an intense manhunt for Mangione, who is suspected of being involved in the recent deadly shooting in New York. As the investigation continues, authorities are working across state lines to piece together the details of Mangione’s activities and potential motives.