Luigi Mangione's Friend Discusses Dating Challenges Before Brian Thompson's Shooting

Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faced difficulties with "physical intimacy" due to back problems, as shared by a close friend.

According to R.J. Martin, the founder of Surfbreak, a Hawaiian co-living space where Mangione lived during 2022, Mangione struggled romantically years before the shooting incident. The 26-year-old's painful back condition significantly impacted his ability to form relationships.

"His spine was kind of misaligned," Martin told the New York Times on Dec. 9. He described how Mangione said his lower vertebrae were nearly half an inch off, potentially pinching a nerve. Because of this pain, Martin stated, Mangione understood that "dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible."

In 2023, Mangione left Hawaii, and Martin noted that when he checked on him through text in August, Mangione sent pictures of his back surgery. Though they exchanged texts sporadically afterward, Martin never saw Mangione in person again.

Mangione was arrested on December 9 at a Pennsylvania McDonald's after an employee reported a "suspicious male resembling the suspect in a recent New York shooting," according to a criminal complaint obtained by E! News.

When questioned by officers, Mangione presented a fake New Jersey driver's license. During his transfer to the local police station, authorities discovered a "black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer" inside his backpack, as detailed in the complaint. In addition, he had a multi-page document allegedly penned by him, reflecting "ill will toward corporate America," noted NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney.

The document reportedly contained a statement of apology: "I do apologize for any strife and trauma but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming," according to senior law enforcement officials speaking to NBC News.

After Mangione's arrest, his attorney Tom Dickey indicated that Mangione will likely plead not guilty to the murder charge.

"I haven’t seen any evidence that says he’s the shooter," he told reporters on December 10. He emphasized a crucial principle of American justice: the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Maze Runner and Flight Night star Dexter Darden got engaged.