The City of Altoona, Pennsylvania on Friday denied the Right-to-Know request filed by The Pennsylvania Daily Star for copies of the documents found during the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York.
Altoona denied the Right-to-Know request filed by The Daily Star on Monday, which specifically sought copies of any written documents found with Mangione at the time of his arrest, including his purported manifesto, as well as any documents, journals, or diaries, citing an exception to public information requests for ongoing investigations.
Despite Altoona Police Department (APD) releasing still images from the body-worn camera footage captured during Mangione’s arrest, the department said it would not release the video to The Daily Star, citing exceptions in the law for videos that serve as evidence of criminality, pertain to an investigation, or the agency determines it cannot reasonably redact the materials.
The city similarly declined a second Right-to-Know request, filed by The Daily Star on Tuesday, seeking an inventory list of items found with Mangione during his arrest, with an official similarly citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and criminal proceedings against Mangione.
After he allegedly provided a fake identity to police during his arrest in Altoona, Mangione was hit with two felony charges for carrying a firearm without a license and forgery, as well as three misdemeanors for tampering with identification documents, possessing instruments of a crime, and falsely identifying himself to police, within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The accused killer was charged with Thompson’s murder in New York on Monday. He is now fighting extradition to New York.
Altoona’s denial of the Right-to-Know requests submitted by The Daily Star comes amid near-total silence from law enforcement following the purported release of Mangione’s manifesto by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who claims to have produced the entirety of the three-page document found with Mangione.
According to that report, multiple mainstream news outlets and publications are also in possession of Mangione’s writings, including The New York Times, CNN, and ABC.
Neither APD nor the New York Police Department (NYPD) replied to requests for comment seeking confirmation that the manifesto released by Klippenstein was the same one written by Mangione, while the FBI suggested to The Daily Star that NYPD would be able to provide answers.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
