ALTOONA, Pa. — The employees at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Luigi Mangione was arrested are understandably wary of reporters.
Mangione was recognized by one of the restaurant’s employees Dec. 9, and the small town — population just over 40,000 — quickly became the center of national headlines.
There was a reported $60,000 reward from the FBI and Crime Stoppers for information leading to Mangione’s arrest, but he has to be convicted before the tipster is able to collect.
Galen Wilson, a customer at Triangle Barbershop on 12th Avenue in downtown Altoona, wondered if the McDonald’s employee who alerted police will ever be able to obtain the reward money.
“I heard on the news that the people who turned him in are not going to get the money,” Wilson said. “That’s what I started complaining about.”
Last week, Altoona Deputy Chief Derek Swope told the media that his department was investigating threats made against the residents involved in the arrest. The unknown Mangione tipster wants to stay anonymous.
After the manager of the Altoona McDonald’s restaurant was approached by a Baltimore Sun reporter on Wednesday, a man — it was not clear if he was a fellow employee or undercover police officer (he was not wearing any McDonald’s insignia or colors) — said the restaurant could not comment on the arrest.
However, the man did confirm it was the McDonald’s where Mangione was arrested.
Other locals have expressed burnout over the amount of attention Mangione has brought to the area. Brian Detwiler does not miss the police presence that was camped out at the McDonald’s.
Detwiler, like many other local residents, said he is ready to move on from the crime that has polarized the nation.
“It was a big deal that he was here,” said Detwiler, who owns Mansion Donut Company in downtown Altoona. You can read more about “Mangione Fatigue” here.
Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at [email protected] or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
