An unexpected sneaker was sighted Thursday as Luigi Mangione was transported in New York City following his extradition from Pennsylvania.
An NYPD officer escorting the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was wearing the Off-White x Air Jordan 5 “Muslin” — a bizarrely hip choice for one of the most high-profile perp walks in recent memory.
Released early in 2020, Off-White’s Air Jordan 5 made it the second Air Jordan model to be reimagined by Virgil Abloh after several colorways of his Air Jordan 1. Abloh was inspired by the first Air Jordan he’d ever worn, the Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic,” and his flourishes on the sneaker included a new textile mesh upper, signature text hit cut off in the window cage and faux-aged translucent outsole. The most publicized feature was the the series of translucent holes appearing throughout, which Abloh intended for consumers to cut out themselves.
After retailing for $225, the Off-White x Air Jordan 5 has sold for as much as $1,000 this month on StockX. Resale prices recently bottom out around the $500 mark.
The officer, one of two guiding Mangione by hand, paired his eye-raising sneaker choice with faded jeans, a grey hoodie and NYPD-issued jacket and hat. Save for the last two items, the outfit is something you might expect to see on an undercover cop — although, perhaps, with a lower budget for sneakers.
Mangione made his first federal court appearance Thursday to face charges of murder through use of a firearm, two stalking charges and a firearms offense.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
