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Judicial hearings in New York City on that day disclosed that police officers connected to the arrest of the suspect were so doubtful of a lead on his whereabouts that they bantered regarding a reward hoagie in text messages.

"My supervisor said, 'should you apprehend the New York City gunman, I’ll purchase you a sub from a nearby eatery,'" testified Police Officer Joseph Detwiler of the Altoona, Pennsylvania police department. "I replied, 'Consider it accomplished.'"

In under an sixty minutes, Detwiler learned that this seemingly unreliable lead was true.

A Apprehension at a Quick-Service Eatery

The suspect was apprehended in Pennsylvania at a fast-food chain on that date in connection with the murder of Brian Thompson. Thompson's fatal shooting on a NYC road on 4 December 2024 had ignited a sprawling manhunt and fueled widespread outrage.

In response to the call center's orders, Detwiler and a colleague went to the McDonald's. "Upon arrival, I saw the man sitting at a booth inside, next to the bathrooms," Detwiler testified. The man was dressed in a large coat, brown hat and blue medical mask, just as the caller had described.

Detwiler inquired of the man for his name and clarified that "a person called, they believed you were suspicious". He requested identification, which the man provided. This ID would later be revealed as fraudulent.

Detwiler also requested the man to pull down his face covering. "I realized it was him instantly," Detwiler stated.

Court Hearings and Evidence Dispute

The officer's testimony came on the second day of a potentially weeklong hearing about whether evidence was gathered improperly during the suspect's interaction with police. Mangione's lawyers have repeatedly argued for the exclusion of materials secured during his detention, claiming he was not promptly advised of his constitutional rights.

The audio recording chronicling Detwiler's call was presented in the hearing.

"There's a man in the McDonald's that looks like the NYC suspect," police dispatch told Detwiler.

Detwiler responded: "Affirmative. We'll be on that."

When questioned regarding his tone, Detwiler explained, "I was being somewhat flippant when I responded. I did not think it was going to be the person that they suspected it was."

A Moments After Identification

Detwiler testified he "stayed calm" after recognizing Mangione and called his sergeant. "Yes, he's here. It's him," Detwiler recalled saying.

On the call, Detwiler emphasized that he was not kidding. "He was taken aback, since he was the one who sent me the SMS when we received the dispatch," about the promised sandwich.

Detwiler tried to act as normally as possible, informing Mangione that police were there over complaints that he had been lingering too long. Officer-worn footage showed Mangione eating food.

"In conversation, I asked him if it was a steak sandwich," Detwiler stated. Mangione responded affirmatively. "I remarked it was my favorite." His goal, he said, was "just attempting to maintain things peaceful and normal."

A Significance of the Mask

The extent of a factor the suspect's face covering had in drawing attention remains unclear.

When asked regarding the prevalence of masks in Altoona, Detwiler said, "People here do not use masks. We have natural immunity."

And because "hardly anyone uses masks" there, Detwiler understood the man they would subsequently confirm as Mangione was the person who had prompted concern. "The individual had a face covering on," Detwiler testified. "So he had to be the man we were dispatched there for."

Legal Defense Questioning

Karen Agnifilo, one of the suspect's lawyers, cross-examined Detwiler once the prosecution concluded its inquiry. She pressed on particulars surrounding his identification of Mangione.

Agnifilo noted that the radio transmission was categorized as "not urgent". "The call didn't sound urgent on the dispatch, no," Detwiler conceded. She also pointed out that emergency signals were not activated.

Agnifilo suggested through questioning that the timing of the identification seemed questionable. "So, in that instant, a couple of seconds into observing him, you are certain: he's the NYC shooter?"

Detwiler reiterated that he knew. "No doubt in my mind."

Agnifilo also attempted to establish that Mangione was held without being apprised of his rights. She questioned the police's physical position in the McDonald's, suggesting they were standing to prevent Mangione from exiting.

Detwiler responded that he and his partner needed room. "We're not going to stand next to each other and hold each other's hands."