More details surrounding Luigi Mangione, the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter, appear as members of his family and acquaintances talk about Mangione's personality and history. Numerous reports revealed that Mangione recently became estranged from his family. Moreover, several people have stated that Mangione changed following a back surgery.
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"Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," reads a statement made by Luigi Mangione's family. According to the New York Post, the family was "devastated" to learn about Mangione's alleged murder of Brian Thompson.
"We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved," the statement continued. We are devastated by this news." Furthermore, the family stated that they don't know any details about the case other than what they "read in the media."
According to the Post, Mangione's mother reported him missing on November 18. Months before, he underwent back surgery after continuous and worsening back pain. Reportedly, he wasn't the same afterward, cutting communication with his family and friends.
A Back Surgery
According to CNN, Mangione began working remotely in Hawaii in 2022. There, he ended up bedridden for a week after a surf lesson. Mangione's friend, RJ Martin, talked to him earlier this year, with Mangione mentioning he had back surgery and sent him a photo of his X-ray. "It looked heinous, with just giant screws going into his spine," Martin said.
Regarding the back surgery and the reported sudden change in Mangione's personality, Barstool Sports' Jack Mack commented that he had spoken with a source that had connections with Luig Mangione's high school friends. "What keeps coming up is a back surgery that 'changed everything' for him and he went 'absolutely crazy'," Mack wrote on X.
"His contact with family stopped about a year ago," Mack wrote. "Recently the family reached out to his friends from high school asking if they had info on him." This seems to align with Mangione's mother reporting him missing. Moreover, Mack highlighted the fact that, recently, Mangione stopped publishing photos with his family on social media.
Furthermore, CNN reports several of Mangione's friends attempting to reach out to him, commenting on his social media accounts. "I haven't heard from you in months," wrote one user. Another user posted: "Thinking of you and prayers everyday in your name. Know you are missed and loved."
Footage of the shooting helped identify Luigi Mangione as the alleged UnitedHealthcare shooter. Police later arrested him at a Pennsylvania McDonald's after an employee called 911. Police charged him with murder.
