Suspected UnitedHealthCare killer suffered from back pain and underwent surgery

The suspected killer of UnitedHealthCare’s CEO had his own debilitating health problems — and even had to undergo surgery to relieve his pain, according to a new report.

CNN interviewed a friend of Luigi Mangione – the man accused of killing UHC CEO Brian Thompson – and revealed that the alleged killer was struggling with back problems after a surfing incident in 2022.

The friend, RJ Martin, told the network that he was living with Mangione at the time in a coworking and co-living space in Honolulu, Hawaii.

One day, Martin said, Mangione came home from a surfing lesson and suffered a back injury that confined him to bed for about a week. Martin called the experience “traumatic” for Mangione, who was only in his 20s and unable to do basic things.

At some point, Martin and Mangione broke up with the latter two communicating via text message earlier this year. Martin said Mangione texted him a photo of an X-ray after the alleged killer had back surgery.

Martin said Mangione’s back “looked horrible” with giant screws in his spine. Mangione posted a similar photo as a wallpaper on his X account, but it was removed by police after his arrest on Monday.

On Monday morning, Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while eating at a McDonald’s restaurant. An employee recognized Mangione from the widely distributed wanted posters after Thompson’s murder and contacted local police, who responded and placed the suspect in handcuffs.

Authorities recovered the alleged gun Mangione used in the killing and detained him on weapons charges in Pennsylvania.