Luigi Mangione claimed he was homeless, used fake ID when caught: testimony

The murder defendant charged in the ambush shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson said he was homeless after showing police a fake driver's license when they found him five days after the killing, according to testimony Thursday on the third day of a suppression hearing his defense team hopes to win key evidence thrown away before the trial.

Although police testified that he appeared nervous at first, after more than a dozen officers arrived, the suspect joked, “Are you guys calling a couple more cars?” – according to bodycam data played in court. This has not yet been made public.

They were called to the scene by a McDonald's manager who reported a suspicious person similar to the man the NYPD had identified as the person involved in Thompson's murder.

Luigi Mangione claimed he was homeless and had not been in New York recently, Altoona police Officer Tyler Frye told the court.

MANGIONE'S DEFENSE TEAM ACCUSES POLICE OF FRAGMENTING MOTHER'S QUOTE INDICATING HIS INVOLVEMENT IN CEO'S MURDER CASE

Fry and Officer Joseph Detwiler were the first to come to the fast food establishment. Over the course of a week, prosecutors reviewed body camera video and surveillance footage showing the confrontation from multiple angles.

When they approached Mangione, Detwiler asked him pull off his mask. The officer testified Tuesday that once he did, he recognized him from a Fox News report about the murder case. Mangione allegedly gave them a fake New Jersey driver's license in the name “Mark Rosario.” Police later found his real license, in his name and issued in his home state of Maryland.

LUIGI MANGIONE PROSECUTORS RESPOND TO THE “SERVICE” STATEMENT

“Visiting relatives here?” Detwiler asked in the body camera video.

“No,” Mangione said. “I'm homeless.”

— Have you been to New York recently? Detwiler followed him.

TRUMP ADMIN USES LUIGI MANGIONE CASE TO 'SEND A MESSAGE' IN FIRST 100 DAYS: FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR

Mangione said no and shook his head.

Like Detwiler earlier this week, Fry testified that he recognized Mangione as the man featured on wanted posters as the man involved in the New York City murder.

“I recognized this man through the media, specifically Fox News,” he said.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FROM LUIGI MANGIONE

While Frye was on the stand, lawyers for both sides viewed body camera video of the arrest.

In one segment, after more police arrived and an officer asked Mangione whether he walked or drove to the McDonald's, the alleged killer joked, “Are you guys calling a couple more cars?”

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FROM LUIGI MANGIONE

Mangione is accused of following Thompson into Manhattan and hiding on a downtown street before shooting him in the back outside the Hilton Hotel, which was scheduled to host UnitedHealthcare investors at a conference on Dec. 4, 2024. He allegedly used the identification card “Mark Rosario” to check into a Manhattan hostel before the murder.

Exactly one year later, Mangione appeared in court and was seen laughing with his lawyers before the hearing began. Except for the Wednesday break, his legal team is trying to show that his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated by police and prison guards in Pennsylvania.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Prosecutors have denied the claims, and legal experts told Fox News Digital that while Mangione's lawyers have raised valid questions, they face an uphill battle to convince the court to suppress the evidence.

This evidence includes the alleged murder weapon found in Mangione's backpack, as well as diaries he kept in which he allegedly criticized health insurance industry and outlined some of the reasons for the alleged plot to kill Thompson.