R.J. Martin, who shared living quarters with Luigi Mangione at a Honolulu co-working space, expressed profound disbelief at his friend's alleged involvement in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. During an interview on "Jesse Watters Primetime," Martin described Mangione as a valuable member of their community, someone who consistently upheld their shared values of positive contribution. He recalled Mangione's active participation in community events, including spearheading a book club even after moving out.

Martin emphasized their close friendship, mentioning shared activities like workouts and volleyball games. He also noted Mangione's struggles with severe back pain, a detail previously reported as a potential factor leading up to the tragic event.

Mangione's arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's and subsequent murder charge in connection with Thompson's death shocked many. Martin addressed the peculiar coincidence of suggesting the Unabomber's manifesto as reading material for their book club, a suggestion he characterized as a "half-joke" at the time. He clarified that while Mangione found Kaczynski's writings "interesting," he did not believe he influenced Mangione towards any violent ideologies.

The stark contrast between the friend Martin knew and the alleged actions of the accused left him grappling with conflicting emotions. He described the situation as feeling surreal, unable to reconcile the image of his amicable roommate with that of someone capable of murder.