Luigi Mangione's Friend No Red Flags in Book Club ... Even After Reading Unabomber's Manifesto

121024-rj-martin-kal
NO SIGNS OF DISTURBANCE
TMZ.com

Luigi Mangione, who is suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, may have been a big fan of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski's manifesto ... but didn't let on to his friends about this.

We caught up with RJ Martin, a pal of Mangione's, on "TMZ Live" Tuesday ... where he recounted reading Kaczynski's manifesto, also known as 'Industrial Society and Its Future,' in their book club a couple years ago.

As RJ put it ... he and another member "half-jokingly" suggested they give the controversial work a go for one of their reads -- but noted most members of the club struggled to get through the first couple chapters.

UHC CEO Murder Suspect Luigi Mangione Returns to Court ... Denied Bail, Fighting Extradition

UPDATE

1:50 PM PT -- Luigi Mangione has obtained legal counsel and is fighting the extradition to New York ... but has 14 days to apply for the challenge, known as a writ of habeas corpus.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ ... Judge David Consiglio will schedule a hearing ... if and when the application is filed.

Mangione will be held without bail at SCI Huntingdon until then.

Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has returned to court ... with the government's goal to have him extradited to New York City.

Mangione has been denied bail Tuesday -- and he's fighting the extradition to New York. As he arrived at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, he began shouting toward reporters before officers rushed him into the building.

121024_luigi_mangione_yelling_kal
OUTBURST BEFORE THE HEARING
Fox News

The murder suspect -- who has sparked both ire and admiration for his alleged involvement in the slaying of an insurance executive in midtown Manhattan last week -- returned to the courthouse Tuesday ... where a judge kicked off the extradition process to send LM to the Big Apple to face charges there.

Ryne Sandberg Announces Cancer Relapse ... Undergoing Intensive Treatment

Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg just revealed his prostate cancer is back and has spread to other organs in his body ... requiring more intensive treatment.

The Hall of Famer provided the health update on Tuesday ... saying despite the news, he will continue to have an optimistic mindset and remain tough as he fights the disease.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

"Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family," Sandberg said.

Jamie Foxx Mystery Illness Finally Revealed

Jamie Foxx just ended the mystery surrounding his health scare -- he revealed he suffered a stroke last year that nearly took his life.

The actor opened up in his new Netflix comedy special, "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...", sharing that he suffered a brain bleed in April 2023 that led to the stroke while filming his movie, "Back in Action," in Atlanta.

121024_jamie_foxx_kal
MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS
Netflix

An emotional Foxx teared up as he recounted the terrifying moment, saying, "April 11, I was having a bad headache, and I asked my boy for an aspirin. I realized quickly that when you're in a medical emergency, your boys don't know what the f*** to do."

Luigi Mangione High School Robotics Team Member ... Seen in Competition Video

Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was highly involved in his high school extracurriculars ... which included being a member of the robotics team.

A resurfaced 2016 video from Baltimore, Maryland’s Gilman School, where Mangione attended, shows him hanging with some robotic creations -- and at one point, he’s seen moving a bot with a controller, guiding it along with other robot enthusiasts.

Luigi appeared focused on the robots for the event. He posed with his teammates and their creation, which earned them a spot in the Maryland State Finals.

Luigi Mangione Seen Eating McDonald's Hashbrown Before Arrest In Police Pics Posted Online

Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was arrested at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania Monday ... and in photos released by police, he's seen eating a hashbrown prior to his arrest.

Pennsylvania State Police posted an update to the case Tuesday morning on X, urging anyone with further information about the suspect to submit tips to authorities. Police posted a series of photos showing Mangione at the Altoona McDonald's restaurant and in his holding cell.

One pic shows two images of Luigi wearing a stocking cap, a heavy jacket and a blue surgical mask ... and he's holding what appears to be a partially eaten hashbrown with the mask pulled aside. It's unclear who took the pic.

Alleged UHC Killer Luigi Mangione Sustained Horrible Back Injury ... During Surfing Lesson

Suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer had his own debilitating health issues — and even needed surgery to try to alleviate his pain, according to a new report.

CNN interviewed a friend of Luigi Mangione — the man charged with the murder of top UHC exec Brian Thompson — and revealed the alleged assassin was grappling with back issues after a 2022 surfing incident.

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

CHEVY CHASE Mysterious Black Eye Explained ... After Vocal Fan Concern

Chevy Chase's heartwarming photo of himself and his young granddaughter was totally upstaged by an apparent eye injury ... prompting worry from fans.

In the photo, which the "Saturday Night Live" alum posted to Instagram on Monday, Chevy was seen sporting a noticeable black eye while holding his family member close.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

While he seemed totally unbothered by the visible bruise, the comment section moved quickly to call it out ... voicing both concern and curiosity about the purple mark.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Person of Interest 'Exceptionally Kind,' 'Very Intelligent' ... According to His Friends

Luigi Mangione, who has been named a person of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been described as an all-around good guy ... this according to his friends.

Sources close to Mangione tell TMZ ... they don't have anything negative to say about the person of interest -- though, some had some not-so-nice things to say about his family. (More on that later on!!!)

One pal described LM as "an exceptionally kind and compassionate friend" ... and made a point to highlight that Mangione, who attended University of Pennsylvania, is a "very intelligent" individual.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Person of Interest's Identity Revealed ... Recognized at McDonald's

The person of interest detained in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been revealed ... and his name is Luigi Mangione.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Mangione is being questioned by authorities in Altoona, Pennsylvania ... though, he has not been charged in connection with the fatal shooting.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams confirmed in a Monday news conference that 26-year-old Luigi Mangione is officially the top person of interest in the murder of Thompson.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder New Video Shows Suspect Lurking Killer Lying in Wait

New video appears to show the suspect wanted for the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... lying in wait moments before the fatal shooting last week.

The video obtained by ABC News shows a figure wearing what appears to be the same dark clothing and gray backpack shown in photos of the suspect previously released by the NYPD, loitering across the street from the scene of the shooting.

120924_ceo_shooter_kal
WAITING FOR THOMPSON

In the new video, the figure lurks among vehicles parked on the street -- then appears to move swiftly toward Thompson. As we've previously seen, the killer emerged from between SUVs parked in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, approached Thompson from behind, and fired multiple rounds. The suspect then calmly walked across the street into an alley, before fleeing on a Citi Bike electric bicycle into Central Park, according to police.

UnitedHealth CEO Warned He'll Be 'Next'... After Saying Biz Will Prevent 'Unnecessary Care'

120924_andrew_witty_kal
ADDRESSING THE COMPANY
X/@kenklippenstein

Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group -- the parent company of UnitedHealthcare -- attempted to reassure employees with a message about their business ... only for that to provoke immediate backlash.

Check it out ... the executive addressed staffers in the days after UHC CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in NYC, defending the company's practices -- saying they'll continue to prevent "unnecessary care."

He noted ... "Our role is a critical role, and we make sure that care is safe, appropriate, and is delivered when people need it."

Bill Romanowski I'm Feeling Great ... In Spite Of '20 Documented Concussions'

120324-bill-romanowski-health-kal
STAYIN' TIP TOP
TMZSports.com

Bill Romanowski tells TMZ Sports despite the repeated head trauma he suffered during his NFL career, he's still feeling great ... although he admits he has to work at it daily.

The legendary tough guy played linebacker for four different teams in the league from 1988 to 2003 ... and he revealed to us this week he ended up with "20 documented concussions" in that timeframe.

But, he said as of now, he's showing no signs of ill effects from the brain blows -- although he did relent he's working like a dog daily to make sure things stay that way.

BRANDI GLANVILLE Fans Concerned Over Cryptic Post on Social Media ... Brandi Responds

update

9:38 AM PT -- Brandi Glanville has responded to fans asking what happened to her -- saying she's not entirely sure. The 'Real Housewives' star says she's been to doctors to figure it out.

Brandi Glanville has left her fans concerned and puzzled after sharing a selfie of herself with a very cryptic caption.

The former 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' alum took to X (formally Twitter) on Saturday where she posted a selfie of herself makeup free, looking exhausted. The post was vaguely captioned "Sick it!"

Brandi's post quickly garnered attention, with many fans expressing worry for the reality star's well-being. One user commented, "Brandi, this just breaks my heart for you," while another wrote, "What happened? Praying for you!"

Kelsey Grammer Foot Injury Can't Stop Me!!! ... Scoots Through London

Kelsey Grammer wasn’t letting a foot injury slow him down -- he was cruising around London on a scooter like it was no big deal!

The "Frasier" star was all smiles despite rocking a cast on his leg, showing no signs of slowing down as he made his way through the crowds with the help of his trusty transportation Saturday.

Kelsey had one knee on the scooter for balance, and it looks like he probably knew he'd warm up after picking up some speed ... 'cause apart from a sweater and some jeans, the guy wasn't doing a whole lot to bundle up in the chilly British city.

It’s unclear how he got the injury, and it's definitely not the break he needed after wrapping up season two of his "Frasier" revival recently.

But looks like nothing’s putting the brakes on Kelsey!

Mark Withers Dead at 77 ... Appeared in 'Stranger Things,' 'Magnum, P.I.'

Mark Withers -- a veteran actor who spend decades in the biz and appeared on such shows as "Stranger Things," "Magnum, P.I." and "Dynasty" -- has died.

In a statement to Variety ... Mark's daughter, Jessie, said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer ... and he died Nov. 22.

“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable," Jessie said.