NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #2

[EBW321]

I'm with you.

I'm guessing there was some suspicious behavior of the unmasked guy. But it's NYC, so there could be all sorts of suspicious types coming into the city.

What do I know? I'm just here at home in Texas.

MOO. I’m with you both.

At first I wasn’t quite sure if it’s the same person. Initial response to unmasked photo was no. But it’s been several hours since the unmasked photo was released as “suspect” “person of interest”. With so many people following the case online around the country and world I’m shocked no one has identified this guy or found him on social media.

I personally believe LE wouldn’t release photo without confidence this person is the shooter or worked with shooter.

But what blows my mind the most is his face is everywhere and not a single media platform I’ve seen has anyone mentioned figuring out his identity. Normally once someone’s photo is shared by police for high profile crime or murders within minutes internet sleuths have the suspects social media accounts, linked in profiles … everything…. posted everywhere for the world to see. That hasn’t been the case today. Which makes this all the more bewildering for me personally.

So it will be interesting to see if they figured out who was earlier today and just haven’t mentioned it to media to decrease chances of losing anymore leads on possible motive or accomplices … or if by tonight he’s still an anomaly of a human in their 20’s with no social media footprint or identity.

 

[Deleted member 306806]

Its frustrating that not all cases are handled the way this one has been.

Many of the recent mass shooting cases have wrapped up quickly. The combination of implied danger to others and location with a lot of surveillance helps.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

it looks bigger dont you think?

It's an illusion because it almost blends in with the base of this vertical thingamabob.

 

[getthefax]

The jackets are not the same. One jacket has a hood, the other appears to be a sweatshirt hoodie under a hoodless jacket.
I wonder..why would he bring two jackets?

Or two backpacks?
Moo, but maybe so he won’t be immediately recognized while he gets away?

 

[helix527]

The only thing I can think of is that, in my experience, hostels tend to be much busier than hotels. On average, hotels seem to have a certain amount of guests that stay for more than one night. Hostels have a much, much higher turn around rate and many more people coming and going at all hours. He might’ve thought people would be less likely to remember him since you (again generally) see more fellow guests in a hostel than a hotel.

I’m also wondering if he (mistakenly) thought a hostel wouldn’t have cameras like a hotel would

Just pure speculation JMO

Good points. Based on experience, a hostel could be more casual in inspecting an ID, especially if it looked fake. Also, you tend to get more more eccentric guests in hostels, so a man walking around with a mask over half their face walking down a hostel corridor would be less suspicious than someone doing the same in a Marriott. Lastly, if taking the disgruntled patient angle, then the suspect could be in serious debt and unable to afford a hotel in an expensive city.

 

[justtrish]

Just my opinion, and just an observation, but does it seem to anyone that NYPD seems to be moving at warp speed to find the killer of this wealthy CEO? I wonder if NYPD would move so quickly if the victim wasn't an "elite" leader of a huge health care insurance organization? This health care organization by the way is widely believed to take the money of millions of "little people" i.e. their customers, and then deny as many of their health claims as they possible can, in order to stuff more money into their overflowing pockets. JMO

I don't know if it's his status in society or the fact that this person is sending a message and it's possible others are at risk immediately. Someone just walked up in cold blood and appears to assassinate this man and then walk off to a bike and ride away. I think cases like this make the news because it's harder to hide a crime when someone is in town for an event and then that even is cancelled due to the crime. Media more than anything I think fuel this, not so much the NYPD.

 

[TTF14]

To my knowledge, most hotels in NYC don’t allow e-bikes as they are a big fire hazard. However I just checked and one of the amenities at the HI NY International Hostel is bike parking, so that may have been a contributing factor in the decision to stay at a hostel rather than a hotel (I would imagine hotels are also stricter with ID requirements).

I didn't think he used his own bike....did he? i assumed it was a Citi bike or something. This thread moves so fast though...I think I'm only catching half!

 

[getthefax]

Just my opinion, and just an observation, but does it seem to anyone that NYPD seems to be moving at warp speed to find the killer of this wealthy CEO? I wonder if NYPD would move so quickly if the victim wasn't an "elite" leader of a huge health care insurance organization? This health care organization by the way is widely believed to take the money of millions of "little people" i.e. their customers, and then deny as many of their health claims as they possible can, in order to stuff more money into their overflowing pockets. JMO

I think a hit killing like this in NYC of literally anyone would be extremely well-investigated. But this IS high profile, and also they are worried about other attacks.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Or two backpacks?
Moo, but maybe so he won’t be immediately recognized while he gets away?

He might have a smaller backpack that he puts in the larger one. I do this all the time to separate what I need during the day vs what I need overnight.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

The jackets are not the same. One jacket has a hood, the other appears to be a sweatshirt hoodie under a hoodless jacket.
I wonder..why would he bring two jackets?

Yes, I concur. And two different backpacks as well. That might have been noted way up thread as well.

The ‘coat’ in the bottom photo seems to have only one upper left breast pocket. And it almost appears it might be a fleece or type of 1/4 zip pullover? And with a matching color hood? The other coat in the upper photo seems to have two breast pockets. And a full zip. And that hood might be from a separate sweatshirt or pullover?

I think I see the same nose in both pictures. Partly obscured in the bottom photo. Almost seems to have a bridge that heads towards the individual’s left side? Perhaps from a prior break? That is if the images are true and are not inverted. And these seem to be the same individual? But as others noted upthread……. there does seem to be some difference in the images shown and individual portrayed. Maybe it is the photo images and distortion therein?

And there are two different color backpack straps over the shoulders. MOO

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I didn't think he used his own bike....did he? i assumed it was a Citi bike or something. This thread moves so fast though...I think I'm only catching half!

Using his own bike would be a very stupid move.

 

[setyourselffree]

The jackets are not the same. One jacket has a hood, the other appears to be a sweatshirt hoodie under a hoodless jacket.
I wonder..why would he bring two jackets?

Because of this exact question. If you're wearing one outfit when hooded, and one when not, then it doesn't allow you to tie these two people together definitively. I wish we could see the shoes in both. Surely LE did before releasing the unmasked photo. There had to be something in common for them to release the photo. Right?

 

[JennieM]

Watch: How the NYC shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO unfolded​

Ros Atkins on… How the New York shooting unfolded

Our Analysis Editor Ros Atkins with BBC Verify has been looking at the gunman’s movements and what we know about how the shooting unfolded.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

At least one of them didn't want to get a divorce, for some reason, which is very strange for such a high net worth family. Typically both parties would want to split assets and put them in their own name, not just trust the other party to be fair. With his current salary, you can assume his net worth was over $40M easily.

They had two teens, one in the house and one out of the house. Once the youngest child leaves for college, child support is a moot point.

And he was in the middle of a DOJ investigation for insider trading.....if he was found guilty, it could greatly affect his net worth, and his ability to obtain another high paying job.

Divorces can take years. This is not that unusual. I have a friend that is in their 30’s with parents that have been separated but not divorced for whatever reason, not sure. They’re all together for holidays and special occasions, but they can’t stand living together.

If they were trying to reconcile, that’s one possible explanation.

 

[alsleuther]

Because of this exact question. If you're wearing one outfit when hooded, and one when not, then it doesn't allow you to tie these two people together definitively. I wish we could see the shoes in both. Surely LE did before releasing the unmasked photo. There had to be something in common for them to release the photo. Right?

And with the clothing changes, did he have luggage with him in the hostel? That backpack doesn't look large enough to hold the gun and days worth of clothes?

 

[alsleuther]

Divorces can take years. This is not that unusual. I have a friend that is in their 30’s with parents that have been separated but not divorced for whatever reason, not sure. They’re all together for holidays and special occasions, but they can’t stand living together.

If they were trying to reconcile, that’s one possible explanation.

But I'm guessing their estate isn't worth tens of millions of dollars? I think money is going to play into this case....

 

[MesquiteO21]

To my knowledge, most hotels in NYC don’t allow e-bikes as they are a big fire hazard. However I just checked and one of the amenities at the HI NY International Hostel is bike parking, so that may have been a contributing factor in the decision to stay at a hostel rather than a hotel (I would imagine hotels are also stricter with ID requirements).

it doesn't sound like the hostel was necessarily less strict about ID requirements but that's a great point about the bike, i didn't know that most hotels wouldn't allow it.

 

[*LD*]

Has UHC or NYPD confirmed Brian was receiving threats? Have we heard this narrative from anyone other than the wife (just a few hours after he was murdered)??

 

[Wallendo]

If the recovered phone is his, he most likely used a burner phone to call another burner phone. The location of the second phone might be important. I doubt he left his own personal phone at the scene (unless he intended to leave a manifesto on the phone).

A Google search on "Brian Thompson" today would yield mostly links related to the murder. Prior to yesterday, the list would have contained links to interviews, information about the DOJ actions, and so forth. Many CEO's are relatively unknown to the general public, but will have giving interviews and human interest stories to industry magazines/websites. Someone doing online research could learn a lot about him.

The gunman only needed to know which door he would use to enter the building and an approximate time. We don't know what he would have done if a security force was present. Would he have proceeded with a suicidal attack, or simply gone to Plan B.

The investors conference would not be well advertised to the general public, but investments firms, active investors , and viewers of CNBC, Bloomberg TV, or Fox Business may have known about the meeting. Information revealed at the meeting would affect the stock price.

The killer may not be a "pro", but has done his homework. LE has a lot of information about him, but there are no reports that they can track his activity after leaving Central Park. He does have somewhat feminine facial features, and with a good shave and a wig could easily look like a woman exiting the park, especially if wearing winter clothing (heavy jacket, gloves etc.). He could have any number of disguises in his backpack. We know of no fingerprint or DNA matches (he probably has no prior records).

His goal appears to be to commit the murder and get away, not to commit the perfect crime. If he has a legitimate passport, he would have had more than enough time to reach an airport and get out of the country (Europe, the Caribbean, or South America). He may have even taken the train to go to a non-NYC airport.

My gut feeling is that he had a good short term plan, but won't evade detection long.

 

[DizzyB]

I didn't think he used his own bike....did he? i assumed it was a Citi bike or something. This thread moves so fast though...I think I'm only catching half!

It was not a Citibike-they are pretty distinctive and that was debunked early on. However, it did appear to be an E-bike. They aren’t cheap, and people don’t just leave them lying at the curb in the city. He didn’t seem to pedal enough to go as fast as he was going without assistance, but I could be wrong.