The capture of a person of interest in connection with the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is highlighting the importance of the public’s help in urgent manhunts.
Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, PA, about 275 miles from the scene of the shooting in New York City.
Police said a tip from an alert McDonald’s employee who recognized Mangione from pictures put out by authorities led to the 26-year-old’s capture.
Officers closed in on the fast-food restaurant and found Mangione sitting at a table with a laptop.
Police recovered key evidence in the investigation including a ghost gun and a mask consistent with the one worn by the gunman.
“This individual was going across jurisdictions. He left the state and had left the area so having eyes across the country being on the lookout for him was key,” said Boston 25 News Security Analyst Daniel Linskey.
Boston 25 News security analyst Daniel Linskey is the former superintendent-in-chief of the Boston Police Department and played a critical role in the Boston Marathon bombings investigation.
He said the McDonald’s employee with a keen eye illustrates how crucial the public’s assistance can be in high profile cases.
“We did that in the Marathon Bombing. We put the pictures out of black hat and white hat. Unfortunately, for us, the individuals who recognized them did not notify law enforcement,” said Linskey.
He points to another high-profile Boston case where a publicity campaign resulted in the capture of the FBI’s most wanted fugitive.
“That’s how we were able to get Whitey Bulger in custody, by doing exactly what NYPD did,” he added. “The FBI put out those photographs and let people know the story again.”
A phone call tip from former Miss Iceland, who used to live near Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger in Santa Monica, CA, played a pivotal role in the Boston FBI’s Office tracking him down.
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