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

[MinnesotaMary]

Adds very little admittedly but this article states that the phone found in the alley "was a burner" according to sources. (we're hearing differing 'sources' on this one).

Also he couldn't resist his cup of coffee after all as someone else highlighted. Both the coffee cup and water bottle have been secured as evidence.

Retracing the steps of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s suspected killer — from arrival in NYC to post-shooting disappearing act

As the hunt continues for the gunman believed to have executed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Hilton early Wednesday, new details have shed light on the alleged killer’…

nypost.com

Just for one: Is the NYPost considered to be highly accurate about what it reports as 'fact'? It is so incredibly early in this - no way any peons like us would know up from down. And remember law enf' sometimes deliberately seeks to mislead.....

 

[K.jill]

The killer was seen at Starbucks at 6:17am and the shooting occurred at 6:46am. He was in front of the Hilton about 5 minutes before the shooting.
So he had 20-23 mins to drink his coffee, some water and eat 2 power bars and walk a couple of blocks to get in position. Some time in that 20ish mins we see him walking with a phone to his ear and nothing else in his hands.
I am thinking he ate very quickly or maybe his Starbuck purchases were made so he could leave the trash on purpose.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Thompson and his wife have lived apart for years.

Assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and wife had lived separately for years: report

The UnitedHealthcare CEO who was fatally shot outside a Midtown hotel was living separately from his wife for years, according to a report.

www.aol.com

 

[TTF14]

Which brings us back to...why was he alone walking to the Hilton.

I had no clue until this case that big wigs in the insurance industry routinely have bodyguards.

 

[Jamara3]

Which brings us back to...why was he alone walking to the Hilton.

The only thing I can think of that makes sense is that his hotel was directly across the street, the Luxury Collection. Maybe because it was early in the morning and such a quick walk he figured he would just meet his people across the street. Perhaps assistants/security were staying in the Hilton.

 

[eddie_van]

Even though he is a very important CEO, I don't find the idea of him going from his hotel to the conference alone very early in the morning to be unbelievable. This probably happens all the time in NYC, you just don't hear about it because nothing bad happens.

 

[TTF14]

The killer was seen at Starbucks at 6:17am and the shooting occurred at 6:46am. He was in front of the Hilton about 5 minutes before the shooting.
So he had 20-23 mins to drink his coffee, some water and eat 2 power bars and walk a couple of blocks to get in position. Some time in that 20ish mins we see him walking with a phone to his ear and nothing else in his hands.
I am thinking he ate very quickly or maybe his Starbuck purchases were made so he could leave the trash on purpose.

What do you think the purpose would be in leaving trash behind on purpose?

 

[indicolite22]

Which brings us back to...why was he alone walking to the Hilton.

He probably didn't think he was in any danger and it was just a short walk. How many people were supposed to know his location (including the hotel he was staying in) and his itinerary for that day? The perp seems to have known. When did the CEO arrive to NYC?

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

I just hope they don’t kill him when capturing, that’s all.

More importantly, I hope he doesn't kill anyone else or force LE into killing him. It's really his choice, he could contact an attorney and turn himself in, or just show up unarmed at a police station. No doubt everyone hopes it's all on bodycam if anything happens.

 

[eloquence]

He probably didn't think he was in any danger and it was just a short walk. How many people were supposed to know his location (including the hotel he was staying in) and his itinerary for that day? The perp seems to have known. When did the CEO arrive to NYC?

I believe he arrived on Monday for the Wednesday conference

 

[Justice101]

I also work for a similar sized entity. It is very unusual for a person of his position to be alone anywhere. Not even as a security concern but there is a lot of prep and multitasking going on and there is always some sort of entourage. Our CEO doesn't even walk down the hall in our own office by himself for very far.

The problem I have with the timing is that Mr. Thompson would not have known exactly where he would be to high precision early that morning. Even if this were an inside job, catching him as he walked in would still have been nearly impossible to coordinate and having him be alone is just so weird I can't even convey to you how unusual that is.

To me this will prove to be some planning and considerable luck. The perp knew someone from UNH would be walking in and waited until he saw someone he either recognized, or that looked like a business guy.

BT was just in the wrong place at the wrong time to be the victim.

That is also possible. Thanks for bringing that up.

But why did he pass up 3 or 4 other individuals who walked by? (This was reported by NYPD) I think.

BT was not even turning toward the door yet to go in the hotel...

It was obviously well planned... but I wonder if the assailant didn't care if it was an investor or a United Healthcare executive that he killed. Just someone who either worked for them or was an investor?

Bottom line, it looks at the surface like it was targeted for BT but might not have been like you said.

 

[Data Sleuth]

Coincidence or another message from the crime scene? Bloomberg (see attachment) is reporting that police have lifted DNA from the “ Ethos” brand water bottle dropped by the assassin.
The definition of the Greek word Ethos centers on cultural morals.(see attachment)

 

[Jamara3]

He probably didn't think he was in any danger and it was just a short walk. How many people were supposed to know his location (including the hotel he was staying in) and his itinerary for that day? The perp seems to have known. When did the CEO arrive to NYC?

I’ll have to find it, but I believe an article from this morning said he arrived Monday. Tuesday was likely a walkthrough/rehearsal at the Hilton. Possible that the perp was tracking his schedule on Tuesday too, he likely kept a very similar schedule for Wednesday.

 

[eddie_van]

Coincidence or another message from the crime scene? Bloomberg (see attachment) is reporting that police have lifted DNA from the “ Ethos” brand water bottle dropped by the assassin.
The definition of the Greek word Ethos centers on cultural morals.(see attachment)

doubt it means anything. ethos is just a common water bottle sold at starbucks

 

[Simply Southern]

Gunman may have fled city, police chasing hundreds of tips in hunt for CEO killer

The search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson entered its third day Friday. Here's the latest news.

www.usatoday.com

CVS and other health care companies are scrubbing social media of top executive pictures.

IMO - this is a smart move.

BT's death has definitely shed light on the anger many people have bubbling just under the surface in America for health insurance and providers.

CVS is UHC #1 provider, making it extremely difficult in rural areas without a CVS.

CVS opened an IV Infusion division just for UHC. This cuts out physicians and local hospital outpatient services.

Infusion Services | CVS Health

CVS Health® provides infusion services through Coram®. We meet patients where they are with at-home infusion therapy and services at ambulatory infusion centers.

www.cvshealth.com

UHC runs deep, and companies/vendors dance to their tune. If UHC brings in a large employer, the preferred providers are required to open an location to service.

Moo...

 

[Arkay]

The only thing I can think of that makes sense is that his hotel was directly across the street, the Luxury Collection. Maybe because it was early in the morning and such a quick walk he figured he would just meet his people across the street. Perhaps assistants/security were staying in the Hilton.

Same.

We are walkers here in NYC.

It does seem to me that since his fancier hotel was a 5-minute walk to the Hilton, he may have figured it was not worth the fuss to gather together some bodyguards just for that walk.

It was really cold here that morning, but as he’s from Minnesota maybe he felt well-acclimated to the cold and a few minutes walk is nothing.

Tragically those few minutes were his downfall. I suppose that could be said for any murder.

JMO

 

[honestground]

And a POWER bar wrapper. Interesting...

Coincidence or another message from the crime scene? Bloomberg (see attachment) is reporting that police have lifted DNA from the “ Ethos” brand water bottle dropped by the assassin.
The definition of the Greek word Ethos centers on cultural morals.(see attachment

 

[Curiousobserver]

That is also possible. Thanks for bringing that up.

But why did he pass up 3 or 4 other individuals who walked by? (This was reported by NYPD) I think.

BT was not even turning toward the door yet to go in the hotel...

It was obviously well planned... but I wonder if the assailant didn't care if it was an investor or a United Healthcare executive that he killed. Just someone who either worked for them or was an investor?

Bottom line, it looks at the surface like it was targeted for BT but might not have been like you said.

I want to see more evidence it was specifically targeted to BT vs any executive of UNH. BT may have just been the first executive looking person who walked into range. I am not saying it wasn't targeted to BT, I just haven't seen the evidence he was targeted.

 

[IQuestion]

Now on the 3rd day...NYC overnight 32 degrees....close to freezing cold! He is skinny, ectomorph body type (tall skinny thinker?)...they don't fair well in cold weather. If he is in town, he has a pre-planned place to stay. Since he tossed a burner phone, it only makes sense he was in contact with at least one other person. Ya' don't need a burner phone to keep track of time, that is what a watch is for!
Now that I have stated such, can anyone see if he has a watch visible on his wrist? Watches can contain lots of info: Expensive? Cheap? Time adjustment? Accuracy, settings, waterproof etc.
Other things noticed: Clean shaven (no fake hair mustache, beard, side burns, goatee etc.) I would have glued on a goatee/moustache etc) so if I was asked to lower my mask, I would still have another layer of disguise. Also, would wear a reversible jacket so I could change the appearance of clothing quickly. Please add or subtract to any of these thoughts...y'all are geniuses at adding to every possible idea. Love sleuths!!!

 

[K.jill]

What do you think the purpose would be in leaving trash behind on purpose?

Not sure. Maybe to leave dna? He left the phone behind too. Could be accidental could be deliberate. I do not have any clear idea of why these things would be left on purpose but it is a lot of stuff to drop.
If I speculate that Starbucks and the dropping of things were deliberate the killer seems less sloppy maybe more professional.