If you were planning on seeing the movie nothing I talked about is going to ruin it for you. Like I said, it is sort of a throw away that had it been focused on could have and should have been a major part of the movie, but it isn't.
I do apologize if you feel like that was a spoiler, but like others have said this was a major news story and his death has been covered pretty extensively in the lead up and press for this movie.