Crime
Fake New Jersey ID Found on UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect Luigi Mangione, Listed as ‘Mark Rosario’
Authorities have uncovered a fake New Jersey identification card in the possession of Luigi Mangione, the primary suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The ID, bearing the alias “Mark Rosario,” was discovered during Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey ID, part of an array of evidence being analyzed, raises questions about Mangione’s preparation and attempts to conceal his identity.
Investigators believe the fake ID may have been part of his strategy to evade detection following the high-profile killing outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4.
Mangione, a 26-year-old former Ivy League student with a history of anti-capitalist rhetoric and grievances against the healthcare industry, has not yet been formally charged.
However, law enforcement continues to connect him to the crime through a range of evidence, including the firearm recovered at his arrest, a suppressor, and a handwritten manifesto critical of corporate America, particularly the healthcare sector.
The discovery of the fake ID adds another layer of intrigue to the case, as authorities explore whether Mangione planned additional steps to escape justice.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police urging the public to provide any information that may assist in closing the case.
Crime
Security guard Yahaira Melendez charged with murder after shooting inside IHOP restaurant in Center City Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A security guard has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a Center City IHOP over the weekend that left a 43-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the IHOP located in the 1300 block of Walnut Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who police say was unhoused, was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators report that the victim had been causing a disturbance inside the restaurant prior to the shooting. As security personnel escorted him outside, he allegedly turned and spat on one of the guards.
That guard, identified as 38-year-old Yahaira Melendez, allegedly responded by drawing her firearm and shooting the victim once in the head.
Police say preliminary findings indicate the victim was not armed at the time of the incident.
Melendez, a mother of three, was taken into custody and has been charged with murder and related offenses.
In a statement Melendez’s family expressed shock and disbelief over the situation, writing in part:
“We are shocked and devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the IHOP while she was working security. We know she would never harm anyone unless she felt she had no other choice to protect herself or others.”
The shooting has left nearby workers and residents shaken.
“Escalation — where was the escalation?” asked Karr Anderson, who works next door to the restaurant. “Security guards need to know how to withhold, how to show restraint.”
Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether proper security protocols were followed and what led to the use of deadly force.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.