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

[MassGuy]

Which begs the question- is it really his face out there? The simplest explanation seems to be that he was wearing a flesh mask under that Covid mask.

I think that's the most complicated explanation, and defies logic. The whole point of the Covid mask was to obscure his face, which he did for the better part of 10 days. Something like that would be pointless, and risk drawing attention to himself. It also wouldn't change the shape of face, which I'd describe as "chiseled."

If this woman found him attractive while the bottom part of his face was obscured, I believe she liked something about his eyes. A mask doesn't explain that either.

 

[x_files]

I think an insane person would have shot more than one person.

exactly. This was targeted not an action of a disorganized mind.

 

[DoubleH518]

Lots of Southerners, from deep Texas, work on not speaking with the Southern accent when out of their area of living. It seems that the trend is to lose it even in school.

#1: ATL does not have an accent. It's a neutral Mid Atlantic type accent these days
#2: 100% true on southern accent sticking out more than foreign one in NYC (lived there two years and can confirm)

 

[alsleuther]

It’s a civil suit— not a criminal prosecution. No prison time.

How about Martha Stewart? Embroiled in insider trading charges she made false statements to authorites and she was criminally charged on that and did go to prison, for a short time (light sentence - 5 months, but that's probably b/c she is a famous and well loved celebrity!)

If he was found guilty of insider trading, his high-earning career would be over.

 

[PawneeDew]

Yes, there are things that point to the possibility of an accomplice (number one being the supposed cell phone call), but I would argue that despite there being some clues that point in that direction, there is probably a very, very low likelihood that there is an accomplice involved. Why ? Because it seems that 98% of these kind of incidents involve only one perpetrator without any accomplice involvement. And the reason that is the case is that its near impossible to convince another person to join one in an assassination plot over things like someone else's personal grievances or over an ideological grudge. No sane person would consider becoming an accomplice to an assassination plot that would offer no rewards, only extreme risk.

I respectfully disagree. In my opinion it was a set-up. The shooter either had an accomplice or spotter....That vivid blue suit-jacket... Almost seems as if (moo) it's a sign? Like someone saying "I'll be the one in the bright blue jacket..." or "The guy will have on a very bright blue jacket..." It's just something that sticks with me...moo

 

[Boodles]

He was in NYC on thanksgiving. If he is American, he missed thanksgiving dinner with his family? Again if he is American, Someone was missing their spouse, son, brother, etc at the table…wonder what excuse he gave to miss out.

Here’s what I think, totally speculative based on my experience with benefits administration, including CEO escalations. I think this guy had a child who was very ill and had been recommended for a treatment or provider, which insurance denied, possibly due to treatment being considered “experimental or investigational” (a common denial reason given by insurance carriers) or out of network. The child died and this guy has a vendetta. The mother is also extremely distraught and is in on the plan to get even. (It could also be the case that the spouse was the one who was ill and needed the denied coverage.)

Of all my jobs, I’ve never been exposed to as much raw, intense and off the charts emotion as when dealing with medical benefits issues. It’s one reason I will never, ever (voluntarily) have a managed care plan. Stuff happens, things change. You go for the cheaper plan thinking (or not even thinking) “this won’t happen to my family - we’re healthy.” Then it does, and the brain surgeon you want to operate on your child’s brain cancer is out of network or the treatment is deemed “experimental and investigational” and you’re stuck with what you consider sub-par care.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he was talking to his wife/child's mother by phone on his way to murder BT. And she knew where he was on Thanksgiving, he was exacting their revenge.

If this is the case, I hope she’s ticked off enough at his flirting with the desk clerk at the hostel to turn him in.

JMO as a possible scenario which hit me the minute I heard about this murder.

 

[Exnyc4ever]

This was a Well planned out attack. BIG peeps are behind this whole thing. His face was Exposed on purpose! Everyone is well aware of CCT throughout NYC . My bet this youngman is NOT even from the USA. HIT 4 Hire . All his trails were left to be uncovered purposely. Some peeps were really Angry with this CEO and well time will reveal the True story....

 

[MassGuy]

5 minutes ago

DNA recovered from killer's water bottle and bullets: sources​

By Matt Troutman
Investigators are days away from DNA results in evidence connected to the shooter who gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, The Post has learned.

The potential DNA evidence has been recovered from a water bottle believed to have been dropped by the masked gunman as he fled from shooting Thompson outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown, as well as bullets from the scene, sources said. A Starbucks coffee cup from the shooter is also being processed for DNA evidence, according to sources.

The manhunt for the shooter — which entered its third day Friday — has involved investigators tracking his movements across New York City going back to his apparent arrival Nov. 24 on a bus from Atlanta pulling into Port Authority.

All places that investigators confirmed the suspect visited have been combed for DNA evidence and fingerprints, including the Upper West Side hostel room where he stayed, sources said.

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting live updates: FBI joins investigation into Brian Thompson’s killing

Follow The Post’s live updates for the latest news as a shooter remains at large after killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Wednesday outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown NYC.

nypost.com

 

[CrimeDawg123]

One thought about why he came to town so early. He might have thought he was placing his travel outside of the scope of any investigation of airport, train, bus records. They would be looking at names within a few days before. By coming by bus, 10 days early, he is a little more under the radar. He was not counting on them identifying the hostel he was staying at and knowing he came in on the 24th and finding him on the bus that way.

How did they trace him to the hostel?

 

[armchairagatha]

I think that's the most complicated explanation, and defies logic. The whole point of the Covid mask was to obscure his face, which he did for the better part of 10 days. Something like that would be pointless, and risk drawing attention to himself. It also wouldn't change the shape of face, which I'd describe as "chiseled."

If this woman found him attractive while the bottom part of his face was obscured, I believe she liked something about his eyes. A mask doesn't explain that either.

Well if the simplest explanation is that he is a citizen of the United States and that is his real face, how has social media not revealed his identity now that the pics have been out for 24 hrs? He is young and even if he is not personally on social media I guarantee a friend of a friend is, so why have they kept quiet? Even if they were worried about their safety, there are anonymous ways of posting that info (example: on Reddit).

 

[ElizaKate]

The "sources close to the investigation" are quiet today... (appreciate it's still morning in NY. I should have done something productive with my day..)

 

[Charlot123]

He was in NYC on thanksgiving. If he is American, he missed thanksgiving dinner with his family? Again if he is American, Someone was missing their spouse, son, brother, etc at the table…wonder what excuse he gave to miss out.

Thanksgiving might be the day of mourning for US Natives. Not in my part of the country, but on the East Coast or the central part or the reservations, it may be. So perhaps, not everyone gets together to celebrate? Like everything else, it may vary with different groups.

 

[x_files]

a thought that popped into my head, what if the shooter is actually terminally ill (with an illness that’s not impacting him too much yet) and felt like he had nothing to lose?

i’m not expecting it to be true, but it would make a good background story, it would explain his motive too

Nothing left to lose and is intelligent and organized enough to make a plan.

 

[x_files]

Thanksgiving might be the day of mourning for US Natives. Not in my part of the country, but on the East Coast or the central part or the reservations, it may be. So perhaps, not everyone gets together to celebrate? Like everything else, it may vary with different groups.

Lots of young adults don't celebrate Thanksgiving, especially if in college. They spend it with friends instead: Friendsgiving. So, a family might not notice or think anything is a miss.

 

[Nikynoo]

Excellent short video coverage about how the New York shooting unfolded. I posted this a thread or two back, but posting again as the threads are moving so fast:

What we know about fatal shooting of health executive Brian Thompson

A "person of interest" is questioned in Pennsylvania, while police try to establish the gunman's motive.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thanks for this. I do not think he was holding a phone. I think he was adjusting his mask.

 

[bestill]

I have a southern accent and it's noticed when I travel, especially up north, out west and abroad. I even had a couple comment on it when we were in Florida recently. That would be big tell. JMO

 

[racheldc]

Would you really pick up your getaway bike battery from a stranger at the last moment and trust that it's fully charged? This seems so strange to me--what if you docked the battery into the bike and found it was dead or 10% charged? There would be no way I'd leave this to chance. The last minute battery pick-up is EXCEEDINGLY strange.

 

[Bridger]

Well if the simplest explanation is that he is a citizen of the United States and that is his real face, how has social media not revealed his identity now that the pics have been out for 24 hrs? He is young and even if he is not personally on social media I guarantee a friend of a friend is, so why have they kept quiet? Even if they were worried about their safety, there are anonymous ways of posting that info (example: on Reddit).

I think we need to realize that there's not someone sitting in an NYPD office patiently waiting for a phone to ring with one name. LE is currently being totally inundated with names--thousands of them, maybe tens of thousands. They have to sift through the many, many tips they are getting to get the right guy. It wouldn't surprise me, given the (somewhat outrageous) reaction to this shooting, if there weren't organized campaigns to provide false ID's. The animosity toward the victim will make this job much much tougher.

 

[IDK]

UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York

Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected.

apnews.com

I'm not sure if this means he didn't go out a lot personally or that he wasn't flashy about his professional title.
The article doesn't really go into detail about it either.

Maybe he was a homebody at home and would be harder to get to and the killer knew he'd be out and about in NY? Or the location of NY was another deliberate message that the killer was trying to send?

MOO.

Yes and it’s interesting that in the head shot which is frequently shared, it looks like he is dressed fairly casually— almost looks like a zip up fleece jacket, not coat and tie.

He was also wearing that lighter blue suit jacket when killed, not the usual dark suit.

So maybe he is more of a homebody, down to earth person.

Does anyone know what kind of car he drove?

 

[ManicMuggle83]

Well if the simplest explanation is that he is a citizen of the United States and that is his real face, how has social media not revealed his identity now that the pics have been out for 24 hrs? He is young and even if he is not personally on social media I guarantee a friend of a friend is, so why have they kept quiet? Even if they were worried about their safety, there are anonymous ways of posting that info (example: on Reddit).

Just because we are obsessing over this story, doesn't mean his peers are.