Luigi Mangione seemed taken aback by the throng of people gathered outside the Pennsylvania courtroom following his arraignment for the alleged killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. This observation was shared by a local police officer who witnessed Mangione’s reaction.

On Tuesday, Mangione was back in the Manhattan Criminal Court for the sixth day of hearings aimed at deciding whether certain pieces of evidence should be excluded from his upcoming trial. During this session, Altoona Police Officer Stephen Fox recounted how Mangione expressed surprise at the presence of so many people during his arraignment in December 2024.

According to Officer Fox, Mangione remarked, “All these people are here for a mass murder, wild,” as he exited the court.

Mangione’s arrest took place at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2024. An employee at the establishment recognized him and informed a colleague, leading to the police being notified. He now faces a series of state and federal charges related to the alleged murder.

A McDonald’s manager recounted the situation to a 911 dispatcher, saying, “I’m a manager at Plank Road McDonald’s out here on the boulevard, and I have a customer here that some other customers were suspicious of; he looks like the CEO shooter from New York.”

Fox said he was confident that Mangione was the suspect in the death of Thompson when the suspect smiled at him.

Luigi Mangione appears in Manhattan Supreme Court during a hearing in the murder case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, Dec. 8, 2025. (Sarah Yenesel/pool via Reuters)

Photo evidence showing the possessions of Luigi Mangione during the arrest for the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Pictured: Mangione’s planned escape route with clothing notes. (Manhattan District Attorney’s Office)

Evidence collected after the arrest of Luigi Mangione and presented by the Manhattan DA during a suppression hearing is shown here. Pictured: Mangione’s passport, driver’s license, debit and credit cards, and a wallet (Manhattan District Attorney’s Office)

On Monday, Altoona Police Officer Christy Wasser testified that she found a magazine with bullets wrapped in wet underwear that was inside the alleged assassin’s backpack.

“There was another magazine hidden in his underwear,” Wasser can be heard saying.

Luigi Mangione allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

Mangione’s lawyers argue that their client’s Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures as well as the right to due process. 

Prosecutors say that police acted within the law, arguing that the warrantless search of Mangione’s bag after his arrest was legal, adding that the only non-Mirandized statement he gave was allegedly giving officers a fake name.

Mangione faces numerous state and federal charges in relation to the alleged murder.