At a Monday evening press conference to discuss the capture of the suspect in the execution-style murder of a healthcare executive last week, Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned as "deeply disturbing" the "dark corners" of America hailing the shooter a hero.
Shapiro made the remarks shortly after Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in New York City, made his first appearance in a courtroom in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He is being held without bail.
"It's deeply disturbing as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this murder. In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint," Shapiro said. "I understand people have real frustration with our healthcare system. But I have no tolerance for anyone using an illegal handgun to kill someone because he thinks his opinion matters most."
He added, "In some dark corners, this vigilante is being hailed as a hero. Let me be clear: he is no hero. The real hero is the person who called 911 at McDonald's this morning."
That person passed along their suspicion to a McDonald's employee, who then called Altoona police.
Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye, who has been on the job for six months, got the call and acted "swiftly" and "calmly," Shapiro said.
Frye told reporters that when asked to pull his blue medical mask down, he "recognized him immediately" Frye said. "We didn't even think twice about it, we knew that was our guy," adding, "It feels good to get a guy like that off the street, especially starting my career this way, it feels great."
Frye added that Mangione did not "give us too many issues."
According to court documents, when an officer asked Mangione if he'd been to New York recently, he "became quiet and started to shake."
Mangione was arraigned on charges of forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing an instrument of crime, and providing false identification to law enforcement. He was ordered held without bail and did not enter a plea. His next court appearance in Blair County was scheduled for Dec. 23, pending a warrant from New York to have him extradited.
State law enforcement said that Mangione was cooperating at first but "he is not now," adding that the 26-year-old suspect did not make any statements.
Police also said that Mangione had traveled between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with stops in between, including Altoona, where he was caught. They said they're still piecing together a timeline of the suspect's travels.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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