A former roommate of Luigi Mangione has spoken out about living with the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Earlier this week, 26-year-old Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee recognized him and alerted police.
The arrest unfolded quietly, with Mangione reportedly “becoming quiet and starting to shake” when officers questioned him about recent travel to New York, according to court documents
Mangione was the “person of interest” amid a nationwide manhunt following Thompson’s killing on December 4.
Thompson was fatally shot last Wednesday in what authorities are calling a “targeted” attack in Midtown Manhattan. The chilling incident occurred just blocks from Times Square and Central Park, as Thompson, 54, walked alone to the New York Hilton.
Police described the act as calculated, with no apparent signs of robbery or random violence. Thompson had been scheduled to speak at an investor conference later that day. His death sparked a five-day search for his killer, concluding in Mangione’s arrest on Monday.
Mangione is now facing a range of charges in both New York and Pennsylvania, according to court documents. In New York, he has been charged with murder, two counts of criminal possession of a loaded firearm, one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Following his arrest, Mangione’s former roommate – R.J. Martin – has spoken out to various news outlets about the man now behind bars.
Speaking to ABC News, Martin described Mangione as “humble” and “destined for a bright future”, adding: “He was absolutely not a violent person as far as I could tell.”
The New York Times reports that Mangione had lived with Martin – the founder of Surfbreak – following their meeting in 2022.
Martin had been looking for remote workers to pay approximately $2,000 per month to share quarters. Speaking about Mangione’s career as an engineer, Martin explained to the NY Times: “We look for people who are looking to give back. And he fit the bill. He was an ideal member for us.”
One element of Mangione’s life that has been the focus of Internet sleuths is a potential back injury. Some people believe this could have been motivation for an alleged hatred against the healthcare industry.
In fact, a screenshot from what is reportedly Mangione’s X profile shows that he had an X-ray image of a spine in his header photo:
The New York Times reports that Mangione was suffering from painful back issues, with Martin telling the outlet: “His spine was kind of misaligned.
“He said his lower vertebrae were almost like a half-inch off, and I think it pinched a nerve.”
Martin explained in more detail about how the injury impacted Mangione’s personal life, adding: “He knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn’t possible.”
The New York Times, Mangione left the co-living space after six months to return to the East Coast. He apparently informed Martin that he would be seeing a doctor while there.
Featured image credit: Jeff Swensen / Getty
