NYPD: Unclear if family recognized Mangione, turned him in
New York Police Department (NYPD) officials say it's unclear whether shooting suspect Luigi Mangione’s family recognized him in the photos released days before his arrest.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell joined MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday to discuss the arrest, and he was asked about the family and friends of Mangione and whether anyone came forward recognizing the suspect.
Chell noted how NYPD officials knew they had to start releasing photos of the suspect connected to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week. Someone was bound to recognize the suspect from the photos, he said.
Once they got authorization to release the images, “tips started coming.”
“I think we got over 400 tips that came in,” Chell said. “So we’re still vetting these tips.”
“And I want to say to your viewers that if anybody has any information in regards to this case, then please call,” he added.
The moderators pressed the officials, asking if they heard from Mangione’s friends and family if they thought the photos were him. It was revealed Mangione attended the University of Pennsylvania.
“Like I said before … I think it's more than 400 tips that came in, we’re still vetting each one of those tips,” Chell said. “But thank God for that customer in McDonald’s.”
Joe Scarborough questioned “where were the parents?” and “where were the fraternity brothers?”
“Post-arrest investigation here, I think all these things will be asked and answered in time. Because, like we said … when that picture went out, the thought process from everyone was like ‘if someone knows this person’ … that’ll all come out,” Chell said. “There’s still a lot of work to do here.”
Mangione was arrested and charged Monday in connection to the murder of the health care executive. He was taken into custody as a person of interest at a McDonald’s roughly two hours outside of Pittsburgh after an employee tipped off law enforcement.
He was charged with five crimes in Pennsylvania, and prosecutors say they expect him to face a homicide charge in New York. Authorities are trying to extradite Mangione to Manhattan, which his attorney said they will oppose.
Thomas Dickey, who is representing Mangione, said he has yet to see evidence that his client is connected to the murder.