NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #3

[wibbleflea]

NYT
"Joseph Kenny, the chief detective, said that investigators are looking into the possibility that the gunman used what’s known as a veterinary gun, a larger firearm used on farms and ranches. “If an animal has to get put down, the animal can be shot without” the weapon causing a large noise, Kenny said."

His own gun? Family owned farm or vet practice?

That’s interesting. A few of the online articles I came across were taking a cynical attitude towards the marketing of the weapon, assuming it was an assassin’s gun that couldn’t be marketed as such. It didn’t occur to me that it could be used on a farm for the purpose stated by the marketing department. The article linked below is an example – it uses scare quotes around in its headline. The VP9’s successor is the Station Six – I don’t know which (if either) was used by the shooter. Both are B & T products.

B&T VP9 Review: "Veterinary Pistol"

 

[getthefax]

Still catching up on the thread so maybe others have already said this:

When he was ditching the backpack, maybe he didn't take time to "hide" it because he didn't know the level of publicity this case was going to get. I'm sure he figured on some & that LE would be looking to find him but I'm thinking he probably tossed it w/out much additional work on his part (like attempting to cover it in leaves, etc.) because he might have thought it would be found & stolen before LE found it. Plus, he probably didn't want to slow down while distancing himself from the crime scene. Jmo.

I just don’t think he cares about more than getting away.

 

[whitelilac]

No update for 2 hours. Something's in the works.
Though... it's 11 pm on the east coast.

 

[judithannegg]

IF he hired his own hit man, I'm not sure the hitman would need to arrive 10 days early and wait around for him. I would think it would be much easier to just arrive and take him out (if he did hire someone to do it, why not provide them with the info they needed to make it happen as easy as possible).

I think the hitman got paid a lot of money and wanted to see NYC. It's a great place to visit, but spendy. Maybe hitman just realized he could make it a vacation/work trip out of it. And, no, I'm not trying to make this lighthearted at all. I'm just thinking of someone who just came into money and thought, why not go early and see the city?

 

[azure]

That’s interesting. A few of the online articles I came across were taking a cynical attitude towards the marketing of the weapon, assuming it was an assassin’s gun that couldn’t be marketed as such. It didn’t occur to me that it could be used on a farm for the purpose stated by the marketing department. The article linked below is an example – it uses scare quotes around in its headline. The VP9’s successor is the Station Six – I don’t know which (if either) was used by the shooter. Both are B & T products.

B&T VP9 Review: "Veterinary Pistol"

This has been stated multiple times, but the "veterinary pistol" is a marketing ploy. I'm a horse trainer, sometimes we have to euthanize horses. I've worked on the racetrack. I have a friend who is a sheep farmer who has to euthanize her own sheep. Veterinarians humanely euthanize animals via injection, even at the racetrack. You don't spend the $ to get the vet out to have them shoot your animal. Slaughterhouses use captive bolt guns so they don't spend money on bullets. People who have to euthanize their own livestock use a regular old gun. There is basically no circumstance in which it would matter if animals could hear the gunshot or not but you can also get close enough to hold the gun to the animal's skull. It's a completely made up marketing angle.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Sorry, I missed this -- where was the water bottle found in relation to the crime scene?

I googled it and naturally there are varying accounts of where the water bottle was found.

I formed my opinion based on the idea that the water bottle was found near where the ebike was. I thought I read that early on, but I'm old so I'm not in any way claiming that as fact.

My whole theory (and it's mine) just fell to the ground if the water bottle was found somewhere else.

 

[Warwick7]

"They are said to be using facial recognition technology and examining DNA that could help nab the killer."

NYPD give fresh update on healthcare boss assassin's identity NYPD give fresh update on healthcare boss assassin's identity

 

[getthefax]

This has been stated multiple times, but the "veterinary pistol" is a marketing ploy. I'm a horse trainer, sometimes we have to euthanize horses. I've worked on the racetrack. I have a friend who is a sheep farmer who has to euthanize her own sheep. Veterinarians humanely euthanize animals via injection, even at the racetrack. You don't spend the $ to get the vet out to have them shoot your animal. Slaughterhouses use captive bolt guns so they don't spend money on bullets. People who have to euthanize their own livestock use a regular old gun. There is basically no circumstance in which it would matter if animals could hear the gunshot or not but you can also get close enough to hold the gun to the animal's skull. It's a completely made up marketing angle.

Absolutely. I'll take it a step further and say it's how they are getting the suppressor past laws that otherwiselimit them.
It's definitely a marketing ploy--but also, not a very good gun for protection or assassination. Single bolt action is tough to argue for marketing for any other purpose... it would be a very expensive novelty.

And if you absolutely had to euthanize an animal in the field, or way out on the range, it could be argued there would be an application.

 

[getthefax]

t

"They are said to be using facial recognition technology and examining DNA that could help nab the killer."

NYPD give fresh update on healthcare boss assassin's identity NYPD give fresh update on healthcare boss assassin's identity

This daily mail article is giving some info that has been debunked. The three words on the casing, for example.
Daily Mail is batting about .150 these days...

MOO

 

[SleuthJan]

Goes back to my theory BT set up his own murder. Wanted NYC so his family won't see anything.

If BT had set up his own hitman, recon for 10 days seems overkill. The gunman would just need to figure out a decent getaway plan.

 

[azure]

Absolutely. I'll take it a step further and say it's how they are getting the suppressor past laws that otherwiselimit them.
It's definitely a marketing ploy--but also, not a very good gun for protection or assassination. Single bolt action is tough to argue for marketing...

And if you absolutely had to euthanize an animal in the field, or way out on the range, it could be argued there would be an application.

Just shoot it with a regular gun. There's no way someone is shooting at a moving target in the field or on the range unless they're hunting, and that's not a hunting gun. Plus, shooting at long range is not what the gun is designed for anyhow. If you have a downed cow in a field, you don't need an expensive specialized gun to not scare the other cows. Your target is going to be immobilized one way or the other, and even Temple Grandin isn't suggesting you don't tell the healthy animals you shot their buddy.

 

[MassGuy]

t

This daily mail article is giving some info that has been debunked. The three words on the casing, for example.
Daily Mail is batting about .150 these days...

MOO

They’re useless here. They copy and paste from previous articles, and can’t even repeat an account from another outlet correctly.

They’re good for finding out about a story, but then it’s best to click the links to the actual reporting they’re drawing from.

 

[Leilei]

CNN Guests:

If he had done this in Minnesota, his message never would have gotten across. Doing it this way got his message out there, despite the heightened risk.

Law enforcement expert says that he believes this is very personal to the killer. He may blame this company for harming someone close to him. He's probably watching the coverage and enjoying the fact that he's accomplished what he set out to do (get that message across).

Inheritance could explain how he got the funds to afford the pricey backpack, gun, hostel expense, travel, etc... and would make sense using that money for his mission.
IMO.

 

[wibbleflea]

[…] and even Temple Grandin isn't suggesting you don't tell the healthy animals you shot their buddy.

I wasn’t expecting Temple Grandin to make an appearance on this thread

 

[kamare]

"the FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information "leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for this crime".

Brian Thompson shooting: Backpack in Central Park found in hunt for gunman - as FBI offers $50K reward

A backpack found in the hunt for the gunman who killed a health insurance boss belonged to the suspect, police have said.

www.moreradio.online

 

[getthefax]

They’re useless here. They copy and paste from previous articles, and can’t even repeat an account from another outlet correctly.

They’re good for finding out about a story, but then it’s best to click the links to the actual reporting they’re drawing from.

I am hungry for every last detail about this fascinating case (with apologies to Mr. Thompson, RIP). But this case has, I'll confess, made me wish they were a non-WS-approved source ...

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

They’re useless here. They copy and paste from previous articles, and can’t even repeat an account from another outlet correctly.

They’re good for finding out about a story, but then it’s best to click the links to the actual reporting they’re drawing from.

Spot on!! this is a tabloid newspaper that is not taken seriously by a single soul here in the UK.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

This case will get solved.

A week after taking over the nation’s largest police department, Jessica Tisch found herself on Wednesday reassuring New Yorkers that investigators would “not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter” who brazenly gunned down the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare outside a Manhattan hotel. She graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/06/us/jessica-tisch-nypd-police-commissioner/index.html

 

[getthefax]

Just shoot it with a regular gun. There's no way someone is shooting at a moving target in the field or on the range unless they're hunting, and that's not a hunting gun. Plus, shooting at long range is not what the gun is designed for anyhow. If you have a downed cow in a field, you don't need an expensive specialized gun to not scare the other cows. Your target is going to be immobilized one way or the other, and even Temple Grandin isn't suggesting you don't tell the healthy animals you shot their buddy.

What can I say? There are people in the world who want any excuse to buy yet another lethal ($5700) toy.

We've just witnessed one.

 

[Incredholt]

FBI offers up to $50K for information as search for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect continues​

FBI offers up to $50K for information as search for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect continues

The manhunt for a gunman who executed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a midtown Manhattan street this week stretched into a third day Friday.

www.nbcnewyork.com