Acording to ABCNEWS Prosecutors on Monday played, for the first time in open court, the 911 call that led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione — the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a high-profile Midtown Manhattan shooting. The hearing, held in New York State Supreme Court, marks a critical moment in what is expected to be a lengthy legal showdown over which pieces of evidence will be allowed at trial.
Mangione, 27, was taken into custody last December at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after Thompson was fatally shot while walking outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan. This week’s multi-day evidentiary hearing will determine how much of the prosecution’s case — including recordings, surveillance footage and items seized during Mangione’s arrest — will ultimately be presented to a jury.
Prosecutors Play 911 Call That Sparked Mangione’s Arrest
During Monday’s session, prosecutors called Emily States, the 911 coordinator for Blair County Emergency Services, to authenticate a recording of the emergency call that first alerted police to Mangione’s presence. The 911 audio, muffled at times by the noise of a busy restaurant, captured the tense moment a McDonald’s manager contacted authorities after customers believed they recognized Mangione from news reports.
“I have a customer here that looks like the CEO shooter from New York,” the manager told the dispatcher. She described an “older female customer” who was visibly shaken after spotting a man in a black jacket, surgical mask, and tan beanie sitting quietly in the back of the restaurant.
When the dispatcher acknowledged her concerns — replying, “He shot the CEO. I got you” — the manager struggled to provide further details, saying the man’s facial features were mostly covered: “The only thing you can see are his eyebrows. I don’t know what to do here, guys.”
Authorities dispatched officers to the restaurant within minutes, instructing the manager to keep watch and call again if the suspect attempted to leave.
Mangione’s Reaction in Court
As the recording echoed through the courtroom, Mangione leaned forward, jotting down notes as he listened to the call that ultimately led to his capture. According to prosecutors, the McDonald’s manager placed the call at 9:14 a.m. on Dec. 9 — just ten minutes after Mangione arrived and took a seat at a rear table.
Police body-camera audio played later in court captured an officer reporting information from a New Jersey ID card bearing the name “Mark Rosario.” Prosecutors argue that Mangione used this fake ID both at the restaurant and previously at a New York hostel he allegedly stayed in before the shooting.
Dispute Over Evidence Seized During Arrest
Much of the defense’s strategy centers on limiting or excluding key evidence gathered during the arrest. Defense attorneys say police improperly questioned Mangione for nearly 20 minutes before advising him of his Miranda rights — and that officers searched his backpack without obtaining a warrant.
Inside the bag, officers reported finding a loaded magazine, a 3D-printed gun, a suppressor, electronic devices, and journal notes prosecutors say reveal Mangione’s motive.
One journal entry presented in court read:
“I finally feel confident about what I will do. The target is insurance. It checks every box.”
Defense lawyers argue these items constitute the “fruit of an unconstitutional search,” claiming that officers created an “armed human wall” around Mangione inside the McDonald’s while interrogating him without informing him of his rights.
They also pointed to body-camera footage in which one officer remarked, “At this point we probably need a search warrant,” yet the search reportedly continued moments later.
Surveillance Footage and Crime Scene Video Shown in Court
Prosecutors also introduced video footage that allegedly shows Mangione before, during, and after the shooting. Images released by the NYPD — and shown on a large screen in the courtroom — depict a masked cyclist approaching Thompson near the Hilton in Midtown before firing multiple shots.
A video played while Sgt. Christopher McLaughlin testified appeared to show the shooter firing at Thompson, who collapsed against a building, before calmly walking past the scene.
Additional surveillance footage from the Altoona McDonald’s shows Mangione entering the restaurant, ordering from a kiosk, picking up his food, and sitting alone in a back corner. The footage also shows the moment officers entered and confronted him.
Life Inside Pennsylvania Prison Before Extradition
After his arrest, Mangione was detained at SCI Huntingdon, a high-security Pennsylvania facility, before being extradited to New York on Dec. 19. Correction officer Tomas Rivers testified that Mangione was kept under constant observation to avoid “an Epstein-style situation.”
Rivers, a former British military member, said Mangione expressed interest in making a “public statement,” though he did not elaborate on its contents.
Supporters Fill Courtroom as Defense Pushes Back
Nearly two dozen Mangione supporters attended Monday’s hearing, wearing shirts with slogans like “Justice is not a spectacle.” Many strained to observe Mangione as he entered and took his seat at the defense table alongside his attorneys.
The defense is attempting to exclude not only the seized backpack items but also any statements Mangione made before being Mirandized. They argue that allowing such evidence would reward what they describe as “methodical and purposeful” violations of his rights.
What’s at Stake for Both Sides
The judge has not yet decided whether the 911 audio, police radio calls, and surveillance footage will be admissible at trial. If the defense successfully suppresses major portions of the evidence — particularly the journal writings and alleged murder weapon — prosecutors could face significant challenges in proving their case.
The current hearing also comes after a September ruling in which two terrorism-related murder charges against Mangione were dismissed. Still, he remains charged with second-degree murder and faces additional federal charges that could carry the death penalty.
Prosecutors insist the arrest and search were lawful and argue that the evidence would have been discovered regardless. The district attorney’s office is expected to continue calling witnesses through the week, including members of the Altoona Police Department and additional NYPD officers.
A Case That Continues to Grow in Complexity
Mangione is accused of shooting Brian Thompson — a father of two and a veteran executive who spent two decades at UnitedHealthcare — in what police called a “premeditated, targeted attack.” Investigators argue Mangione fled New York immediately after the killing, ultimately leading to his arrest five days later in Pennsylvania.
The outcome of this week’s hearing will determine how much of the prosecution’s case survives to be presented at trial. No trial date has yet been set in either the state or federal case, and multiple days of testimony, videos, and legal arguments are expected before the court rules on the admissibility of the contested evidence