(NewsNation) — Body camera video showing how police approached, arrested and searched Luigi Mangione at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s was shown in a New York court Tuesday.
Mangione appeared in court for a second consecutive day as his defense team bids to have key evidence ruled inadmissible.
His team is looking to block the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from showing or telling jurors about a backpack, gun and manifesto on his person when he was arrested on Dec. 9, 2024, five days after he was accused of killing then-UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Despite expecting to hear from multiple witnesses, only Officer Joseph Detwiler, who confronted Mangione in the eatery, testified.
Detwiler said he instantly recognized Mangione when he took off his facemask, and the murder suspect was nervous when talking to police.
Police suggested they were responding to loitering concerns at the McDonald’s, conversing about Mangione’s steak sandwich, with Detwiler also whistling a tune.
Officers also patted Mangione down and pushed his backpack away from him — out of “a safety concern” about what might be in it and what he might do, according to Detwiler.
An officer read Mangione his rights after he admitted to giving them a fake ID. Detwiler added he was “not in custody at this point.” Mangione was frisked again and then handcuffed. Detwiler testified that police at that point had decided to “detain” him for investigation but that he wasn’t arrested until a few minutes later on charges of providing false identification.
The defense contends that the statements should be suppressed because officers started asking questions before telling him he had a right to remain silent. Mangione’s attorneys argue the backpack items should be excluded because police didn’t get a warrant before searching Mangione’s bag.
Detwiler testified that he neither told Mangione he couldn’t leave nor mentioned the New York shooting. Defense lawyers, however, have argued in court filings that officers “strategically” stood in a way that prevented him from leaving.
Prosecutors haven’t yet laid out their arguments for allowing the disputed evidence. The suppression hearing will continue on Thursday.
The judge has decided to seal the police body cam footage until the trial starts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.