A judge in Manhattan has authorised the public release of a crucial 911 audio recording that directly led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering senior United HealthCare executive Brian Thompson. The decision came after sustained pressure from media organisations advocating for transparency.
The Pivotal Call from a Pennsylvania McDonald's
The recording captures the moment in December last year when the manager of a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, contacted emergency services. The manager reported that several customers were "really upset" and believed a man in her restaurant resembled the suspected "CEO shooter from New York."
In the call, played in New York State court this week, the manager described the individual as wearing a black jacket, a medical face mask, and a khaki-coloured beanie pulled down low. "The only thing you can see is his eyebrows," she told the operator, adding that she had tried to Google images to calm the concerned patrons but found it difficult to confirm.
Police Testimony Highlights Unusual Mask Use
The call proved decisive. Altoona police officer Joseph Detwiler, who first approached and arrested Mangione, testified that the suspect's mask made him stand out immediately. Detwiler stated that in Altoona, "no one wears masks," explaining, "We have antibodies." He testified that it was therefore clear the masked man was the individual they had been summoned to locate.
Mangione was subsequently taken into custody at the fast-food outlet. He has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges relating to Thompson's murder, which occurred approximately a year ago.
A Shift in Judicial Sealing and Press Advocacy
The release marks a reversal from earlier in the week when Judge Gregory Carro sided with Mangione's defence team to seal evidential materials until trial. This initial move prompted a direct challenge from the press corps. A reporter was ejected from the courtroom after standing to request to be heard on the sealing order, a routine practice in New York courts where legal precedent supports journalists' right to argue for access.
Following written requests from media representatives, including Matthew Lee of Inner City Press, Judge Carro announced on Thursday that a number of exhibits would be unsealed. He directed the public to a Dropbox maintained by the District Attorney's office. According to reports, the judge did not comment on the earlier ejection of the journalist. The released evidence does not encompass all materials played in court.
The case underscores the ongoing tension between judicial process, defendant rights, and the principle of open justice, with the press playing a key role in challenging secrecy in high-profile criminal proceedings.
