Bodycam Shows Key Evidence in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder

By Manisha Sahu | America News World

December 10, 2025

In a dramatic courtroom revelation that has drawn national attention, newly presented police body-camera footage has shed fresh light on the arrest of Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year. The footage, played Monday during a pre-trial hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, captures the tense moments inside a Pennsylvania McDonald’s where Mangione was apprehended—and what officers discovered inside his backpack that convinced them they had the right suspect.

Luigi Mangione is being led into Manhattan State Court in New York. (AP Photo)

The footage, recorded in December 2024 and introduced by prosecutors as key evidence, reportedly shows a police officer carefully rifling through Mangione’s belongings shortly after he was handcuffed at the Altoona, Pennsylvania fast-food restaurant. Within minutes, the officer pulls out what appears to be a loaded gun magazine wrapped inside a pair of underwear. The sight of the magazine prompts an immediate reaction from the officers on scene.

According to the Associated Press, one officer can be heard saying, “It’s him, dude. It’s him, 100%,” signaling the moment police became certain they had detained the man suspected of killing Thompson only five days earlier on the streets of Manhattan.

A Murder That Shocked Corporate America

The killing of Brian Thompson, a high-profile healthcare executive, stunned the corporate world and raised urgent questions about CEO security and rising hostility toward large insurers. Thompson, 52, was shot dead while walking to a hotel in Midtown Manhattan to attend an investor conference. CCTV footage later released to investigators showed a masked assailant approaching Thompson from behind and firing a single shot before fleeing into the night.

The shocking nature of the attack—quiet, targeted, and in the heart of one of the busiest districts in the world—led to widespread speculation about the killer’s motive. Prosecutors now allege that the handgun found in Mangione’s backpack matches the firearm used in Thompson’s murder.

The Arrest at McDonald’s

Police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, received a tip that a man matching the suspect’s description had been spotted at a local McDonald’s. When officers arrived, Mangione was identified, detained, and handcuffed. The body-camera footage presented in court now provides the most detailed public look yet at what followed: the systematic search of Mangione’s backpack, conducted in front of customers and employees who likely had little idea they were witnessing the arrest of a national murder suspect.

Officer Christy Wasser, who conducted the search and testified on the fourth day of the pre-trial hearing, told the court that she found multiple items of concern—including the loaded magazine, a 9mm handgun, and a notebook whose contents prosecutors argue reveal violent intent.

Wasser’s testimony established a timeline for events that unfolded after Mangione was located. She described how officers proceeded cautiously, aware that the suspect might be armed, and how the discovery of the concealed magazine immediately heightened the seriousness of the situation.

A Notebook Filled With Anti-Insurer Sentiment

One of the most debated pieces of evidence is Mangione’s notebook, discovered in the backpack during the same search. Prosecutors claim the notebook contains passages expressing deep animosity toward health insurers and even outlines what they describe as a plan to kill a CEO at an investor conference—the very kind of event Thompson was heading to when he was shot.

Defense attorneys, however, have argued that the notebook is being taken out of context and does not establish guilt. They insist the writings represent personal frustration and fantasies rather than actual plans.

Still, prosecutors maintain the notebook supports their argument that Thompson’s murder was premeditated and ideologically motivated.

Defense Moves to Suppress Evidence

Mangione’s legal team is aggressively seeking to have the evidence excluded, arguing that the search of the backpack was conducted without a warrant and therefore violated constitutional protections. According to the defense, police lacked justification for a warrantless search at the time it was initiated.

They claim officers acted prematurely and that the subsequent discovery of the magazine, handgun, and notebook should not be admitted in court.

Prosecutors, however, counter that the search was lawful under the circumstances. They argue that officers had sufficient probable cause based on the suspect description, the nature of the crime, and concerns for officer safety—particularly with the possibility that Mangione was armed. They also note that a warrant was obtained shortly afterward, validating the evidence collected.

The pre-trial hearing has now become a critical battleground between the prosecution and the defense. The judge’s ruling on the admissibility of the evidence may significantly shape the direction of the upcoming trial.

Mangione Pleads Not Guilty

Throughout the legal proceedings, Mangione has maintained a plea of not guilty. His defense team insists he was wrongly identified and that the prosecution’s narrative relies heavily on circumstantial evidence and assumptions about his motives.

The prosecution remains confident, emphasizing that the handgun found with Mangione matches the ballistics of the weapon used in Thompson’s killing—a claim that, if upheld in court, could prove damning.

A Community Watching Closely

The case has captured widespread public interest—not only because of the high-profile victim but also due to questions surrounding corporate security, mental health, and law enforcement procedure. The courtroom has been packed with journalists, legal observers, and corporate representatives, all trying to understand the motivations behind a killing that rattled one of the nation’s largest healthcare companies.

As the pre-trial hearing continues, both sides are preparing for what promises to be one of the most closely watched trials of the coming year. The judge’s upcoming decisions on evidence will be pivotal, setting the stage for a trial that could reshape public understanding of the crime, the suspect, and the security risks faced by corporate leaders.

For now, the newly revealed body-camera footage stands as a haunting reminder of the moment police believed they had found the man responsible for a murder that shocked the nation.