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

[Kittybunny]

Interesting!

Not exactly the same, but people are crazy! Did you ever follow the story about the wealthy Golden Flake heir? He created this elaborate scene to look like he was abducted and murdered and it all turned out that he killed himself!

Lawyer Staged His Suicide to Look Like a Murder, Say Police | Law.com

Days after Major Bashinsky disappeared from his law office, a letter turned up in his car accusing his family of mistreating workers at the snack food company it founded. When his body was found in a pond at an Alabama golf course, it had all the markings of a slaying: He had been shot in the...

www.law.com

No I didn’t know about this one! Very interesting! I feel like there was another faked murder that was a suicide…I think the guy was a cop. Oh yes! Found it!

https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/us/fox-lake-illinois-police-officer-joe-gliniewicz/index.html

 

[setyourselffree]

Ooooh! I just had a crazy idea! What if BT hired his own killer?!? Wants to preserve his legacy, maintain his wealth for his family, knows he’s going down. Could explain the no security, bright blue jacket, impeccable timing, well-funded assassin who had plenty of time to plan this out.

And no, not sure I believe this one either, but this case is driving me nuts, clearly, haha.

It would have been *ice cold* if there were multiple guys dressed the same, and they all converge on video later in the day, which all of the video led up to. There’s definitely a movie script in this theory! I’d watch it.

But yeah, my mind has gone some wild places with this too. I think the simplest explanation will be the right one, though. A lone actor with a grudge whose family says ‘we had no idea’.

 

[Marysmith]

I'm sure the perp also didn't expect this kind of media coverage!

 

[snarast]

I'm sure the perp also didn't expect this kind of media coverage!

I’m sure he did. IMHO

 

[MassGuy]

Checking closer to home.

Will today be a BIG news day in this case?

I’d be absolutely shocked if it wasn’t. Someone has to have called in a reliable tip regarding his identity by now, and there’s a decent chance they’ve now accessed that phone that was recovered. There’s also that gun angle (stupidly using a very uncommon weapon).

 

[Inthedetails]

I’m sure he did.

100% agree. This media coverage was expected, imo, and probably desired. my opinion

jmo

 

[Jamara3]

It would have been *ice cold* if there were multiple guys dressed the same, and they all converge on video later in the day, which all of the video led up to. There’s definitely a movie script in this theory! I’d watch it.

But yeah, my mind has gone some wild places with this too. I think the simplest explanation will be the right one, though. A lone actor with a grudge whose family says ‘we had no idea’.

Yes! To the multiple guys idea: It kind of reminds me of the Patriot Front group. They all dress in a very generic, white male uniform with the addition of the baclava mask. Makes it more difficult to determine their identities when they attend demonstrations. I agree though that it is likely very farfetched.

 

[judithannegg]

Ooooh! I just had a crazy idea! What if BT hired his own killer?!? Wants to preserve his legacy, maintain his wealth for his family, knows he’s going down. Could explain the no security, bright blue jacket, impeccable timing, well-funded assassin who had plenty of time to plan this out.

And no, not sure I believe this one either, but this case is driving me nuts, clearly, haha.

I definitely have thought this from day one. Hitman even went to Starbucks and wasn't worried about missing BT walking out of hotel.

 

[itsdev]

So the suggestion being that he may be terminally ill and has been denied health coverage by UCH?

If that were to be the case, why would I take great care to hide my identity? If I’m dying why do I care if I get caught?

If it were me, I probably would have wanted to look BT in the eye. I’d want him to see me. I’d want him to hear me.

Additionally, I probably would have died at the scene or shortly thereafter.

Not saying it’s not possible but I’m just not convinced that the killer’s actions reflect this line of thought. Who knows though.

MOO

BBM

Perhaps he is not “done with his mission” so wants to stay hidden longer to complete his objective.

MOO

 

[ElizaKate]

<SBM>
Surprised that the ‘disgruntled employee’ theory hasn’t gotten more traction.

LE seem to be following that route -

"This is a solid investigation and I’m confident that he’s going to be an ex-client, an ex-employee or a conspiracy theorist."

Suspect in Killing of Insurance C.E.O. Is Said to Have Used Fake New Jersey ID

Investigators released pictures showing the face of the man they believe killed Brian Thompson outside a Midtown hotel. They said the words “delay” and “deny” were written on bullet casings collected at the murder scene.

www.nytimes.com

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I'll respectfully point out that plenty of people who live in this part of the country are in fact citizens or residents with state ID but were born elsewhere. By that I mean, if he's a foreigner with an accent, he could still have American/local ID and it would not raise an eyebrow at all.

I would like to hear if anyone noticed an accent though. And, if he's actually from down south, that accent stands out too!

jmo

I am waiting for an answer to this question as well. Clearly, the hostel worker would HAVE an answer.... but no one is letting this information become public. ???

 

[Noharg]

Exactly. He had to have bought, stolen, or been given the e-bike.

From abc7ny.com
“The suspect was spotted on surveillance footage about 5 a.m. Wednesday outside the hostel holding what appeared to be an e-bike battery.”

 

[justtrish]

Agree with everything you said. Also the part I cannot get past is that the shooter knew exactly when and where to stand to cross paths with BT in the wee hours of the morning, when he was staying a hotel other than the one the the conference was held at, 1.5 hours before the conference started. He was so confident of the timing and correct location that he even popped into Starbucks for a snack 30 min prior! If he didn't know what BT's exact agenda was that day he would have been camped out for much longer.

BT probably took the Corporate jet to NYC that week and when he landed he would have a driver to take him to his hotel. It would be impossible for a young kid on an Ebike to follow this movement. The private airports are secured. How did the shooter know he was staying at the Marriott? And that he would walk to the conference 1.5 hours before it started?

So, I think there are two options here:
1 - Shooter had electronic access to BT's phone and location - maybe through the previous cyber attack (IMO unlikely)
2 - Shooter was in communication with another person that was telling him exactly where BT was staying and what his schedule was for the day, and what his path to the conference would be.

It looks like the conference was only for that one day, but was there anything else going on that Brian would have went to in the days before the 5th?

Is it possible he watched the victim the day or two prior and knew that the conference started at 7 and just observed when he left the hotel the days before and his route across the street? If he was a speaker at this conference, then did they do a run through before the 5th? Maybe he was there walking through the venue to make sure things were set up just right? If the hostel that the shooter stayed at was right there also, then I think it's possible he hung around or even accomplice or accomplices did also and they were able to find him and where he stayed in the day or two before the shooting.

 

[MassGuy]

CNN: John Miller thinks they'll start expanding the net today, reaching out to other parts of the country as this guy likely isn't in NY anymore.

Former U.S. Marshal thinks they'll be looking for phone records that show calls to places like Atlanta. He seems to be saying that they'll use geofencing at places where they have him on the phone to figure out who is making calls at that time (I hadn't thought of this).

 

[eash]

Checking closer to home.

Will today be a BIG news day in this case?

I am still firmly on this bench. I think it is someone who knew him or was involved in his family or close associates.

 

[dotr]

With all of the evidence left behind and the resources of the NYPD: caught on camera multiple times including at a corporate chain, at least 3 witnesses directly at scene (woman outside, two cars idling), used a phone near the scene, left a phone behind at the scene, left a water bottle with a smudged print, left behind casings, tracked down where he stayed (fake id) and travel to NYC (greyhound). It’s surprising to me that they still haven’t identified him yet. I do wonder if much of the evidence left behind was a red herring to throw them off track.
Some of the new information does make this sound more professional or at least organized in some manner. I’ve had an even crazier thought that maybe there were multiple individuals in the area that day dressed the exact same to obscure movements and identity.

Glad you mentioned that! Although not terribly likely, it also occurred to me that it was a kind of tag team assassination, maybe by brothers, speculation.

 

[gremlin444]

So the suggestion being that he may be terminally ill and has been denied health coverage by UCH?

If that were to be the case, why would I take great care to hide my identity? If I’m dying why do I care if I get caught?

If that were the scenario, while the person might not have cared much himself if he got caught he might have family who he cares about and doesn't want to put through the ordeal of having their dying loved one arrested, gone to trial, put in prison, etc.--he may have wanted to spare them the media attention, extra stress, shame, and noterity.

 

[Inthedetails]

I am waiting for an answer to this question as well. Clearly, the hostel worker would HAVE an answer.... but no one is letting this information become public. ???

As far as I know, the only "witness" interview with media was the Danish hostel guest who never even saw the suspect and was on his way home that day. (I find that rather amusing, tbh.)

Nobody else is saying, "I talked to him. He bought a bagel and joked that he only wanted a small smear with it. Left a tip. Nice guy. Never would guess he is a killer."... or, "He was cold as ice. Didn't said a word when I asked how he was doing, like he didn't want me to hear his voice. Creepy guy."

Nothing.

I think NYPD was all over this FAST and is asking people not to talk to media while the guy is on the loose and everyone are complying (which I'm actually glad about, even though I want info!).

jmo

 

[GRT]

One thing I’m not understanding. Why did an e-bike battery need to be picked up and dropped off at all, why isn’t it with the bike? Is the bike locked up somewhere and either dead or is just missing its battery?

The only thing I can think is that without the battery, no one would want to steal the ebike. On my bike, the battery is locked in place, and I have to use a key to remove it. That's a safety feature to keep someone from stealing it.

The other potential consideration is the temperature. I don't know what the overnight low was in NYC that night, but lithium-ion batteries can function at lower performance if they're cold. Maybe he/they didn't want to run the risk of leaving the battery outside all night.

All MOO

 

[CrimeBunny]

Since I am also enjoying my morning coffee, I’ll join you and add that extra motive could be a pending divorce. Maybe BT has been seeing someone and a mutually beneficial prolonged separation is no longer beneficial for BT - he wants to move on, get remarried. And while certainly the wife would be well taken care of, she would not be entitled to the much larger payout that would be expected should she remain married to him.

My morning coffee over here as well

This is the angle that’s been rattling in my brain.

JMO, having been exposed to this kind of world, the in fighting between a couple like this can be intense when the stakes are high. Add in the DOJ stuff and this makes the most sense to me as a motive.

The shell casings and bomb threat a red herring.

MOO