Luigi Mangione, the suspect in last week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, has reportedly suggested during his first court appearance that evidence may have been “planted” on him.
Mangione was arrested on Monday morning after being recognized at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania—a few hundred miles away from the site of Thompson’s slaying in New York City. He was quickly detained and booked on weapons and forgery charges. Prosecutors in Manhattan filed murder and other charges against the suspect hours later, according to the Associated Press.
Police in Altoona said that they discovered Mangione in possession of a “ghost gun,” fake identification and a manifesto at the time of his arrest. Pennsylvania prosecutors reportedly said that the suspect was also carrying a large amount of cash and a “Faraday” backpack capable of blocking electronic signals.
During an arraignment in Pennsylvania on Monday night, Mangione spoke up to “correct” prosecutors by insisting that the money was not his and to dispute a description of his backpack as evidence of “criminal sophistication,” according to CNN correspondent Danny Freeman.
Stephen Maturen; Altoona Police Department via Getty Images/Getty Images; Altoona Police Department
“Prosecutors also highlighted about $10,000—$8,000 in U.S. dollars and then $2,000 in foreign currency that was found on his person,” Freeman said during a broadcast. “Also they said that he had a Faraday bag… the prosecutor said that was an indication of criminal sophistication and reason they should hold him on bail.”
“Mangione actually said at the end of that speech by the prosecution, ‘I’d like to correct two things,'” he added. “‘First, I don’t know where any of that money came from, I’m not sure if it was planted. And also, that bag was waterproof, so I don’t know about criminal sophistication.'”
Newsweek reached out for comment to the Altoona Police Department via email on Monday night.
Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania. New York City Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a press conference earlier in the day that Mangione would be extradited back to New York.
While extradition proceedings are likely to begin immediately since charges have been filed in New York, there could be a delay of up to 45 days if Mangione attempts to dispute the extradition.
Nino Mangione, Luigi’s cousin and a Republican Maryland state lawmaker, shared a statement on the arrest from the Mangione family with Newsweek via email on Monday night, while adding that he had “no further comment beyond this statement at this time.”
“Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione,” the family’s statement reads. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news.”
