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

[acutename]

It's not a typical book bag, rather, it's an expensive photographer's bag, with many padded compartments for lenses and heavy camera bodies. The company who makes the bag acknowledged it was one of theirs.

https://www.rei.com/search?q=peak+backpack

 

[wibbleflea]

There were also two SUVs with lights on parked right next to BT when he was shot. One of the drivers took a photo of the shooter as he was walking away.

Yes! Brazen. Speaking of the cars, does anyone remember the driver of one of those cars insisting in a news interview a day ago that the gunman had been waiting there all night? I looked again for that interview but couldn’t find it. The driver reported hearing three shots, looking around and the seeing the shooter leave.

 

[chinacat67]

I worked at a very large corporation and everyone including the CEO always stayed at the hotel the company had an agreement with, regardless of the conference venue. In my case it was always a Marriott. I don’t know the UHC policy.

I always stay at a Marriott because points.

A lot of business travelers are loyal for points but CEOs of his type and size of corporation travel at a much more exclusive level so a really nice Hilton frankly would be the same as a Super 8 to him... beneath his status level.

They stay at Four Seasons' and Mandarins and Ritz Carlton's and St Regis' and high end low key boutique hotels that cater to them.

 

[kamare]

Yes! Brazen. Speaking of the cars, does anyone remember the driver of one of those cars insisting in a news interview a day ago that the gunman had been waiting there all night? I looked again for that interview but couldn’t find it. The driver reported hearing three shots, looking around and the seeing the shooter leave.

Yes, he did say he was there all night. I just assumed he was exaggerating.

 

[Oceans1111]

Thanks for this. Interesting that BT isn't mentioned in there at all. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty provided testimony.

Agreed but loon up the docket of judge’s ruling in 2022 DOJ antitrust suit re UnitedHealth acquisition of Change Healthcare and a huge component of allowing the acquisition was requirement to set up proper firewalls between UHG companies; and then keyword search (in parentheses) around similar aspects of that case in year 2024. I think it’s more likely that BT’s stock sale was coincidental (albeit first time he ever sold) than it was coincidental that WSJ leaked about DOJ antitrust investigation into them on 2/26/24. Im a tin hatter (only after a ton of research on a topic) but pretty certain that the administration (and/or some component within it - ie CISA, FBI, etc - was starting to realize they had a potentially fairly catastrophic data breach on its hands at that point.

 

[Stargazer90]

There is plenty of precedent for this sort of thing, as opposed to fantastical movie type scenarios that literally never happen.

But there is no way for a rando to have the logistics of a CEO's itinerary down to the minute. That is inarguable.

 

[gitana1]

Color me cynical but I don’t think this was an ideological murder. I will be very surprised if (a large amount of) money wasn’t the main motive. This guy was insanely rich and was also embroiled in an insider selling case where he could turn informer. Bet he had plenty of people who wanted him out of the way for money reasons.

Definitely could be. However, IMO it would still be perceived as an attack on the system by the public until it’s solved and there’s a humongous amount of power and money involved in that system. So I believe the government will do everything possible to solve this murder quickly.

 

[Maumau1616]

I just can't picture someone so upset about a family member that they'd flirt with the hostel clerk on such a personal mission. I'd expect someone that upset to be perpetually upset, withdrawn, and serious during the 10-day lead-up to the assassination.

I thought the guy who pulled his mask down was not the same guy - did I mix that up?

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

I worked at a very large corporation and everyone including the CEO always stayed at the hotel the company had an agreement with, regardless of the conference venue. In my case it was always a Marriott. I don’t know the UHC policy.

I can only go by experience. My husband has attended many business conferences throughout his career and always stayed at the hotels/resorts where the conferences were being held. The Presidents and CEO's always stayed at the same places, too. I guess that it just depends on the industry.

JMO.

 

[kamare]

Agreed but loon up the docket of judge’s ruling in 2022 DOJ antitrust suit re UnitedHealth acquisition of Change Healthcare and a huge component of allowing the acquisition was requirement to set up proper firewalls between UHG companies; and then keyword search (in parentheses) around similar aspects of that case in year 2024. I think it’s more likely that BT’s stock sale was coincidental (albeit first time he ever sold) than it was coincidental that WSJ leaked about DOJ antitrust investigation into them on 2/26/24. Im a tin hatter (only after a ton of research on a topic) but pretty certain that the administration (and/or some component within it - ie CISA, FBI, etc - was starting to realize they had a potentially fairly catastrophic data breach on its hands at that point.

Officers at my company had set times that they could sell stock so that there was never a question of impropriety. I believe the lawsuit over the stock sales is with a pension fund taking issue. I think that portion of this is a nothing burger.

 

[Maumau1616]

I do too, but then I think why would someone from overseas want to kill the CEO of an American healthcare company? So strange.

United Healthgroup actually has quite a few subsidiaries that are in other countries.

 

[MassGuy]

But there is no way for a rando to have the logistics of a CEO's itinerary down to the minute. That is inarguable.

He didn't have to. What he could have known is when this event would start, and maybe he had a short list of potential victims.

So many things could have gone wrong that it's insane. A cop could have walked by. A bystander could have intervened. Private security could have been escorting BT. He took insane risks and got lucky.

 

[Curiousobserver]

Did I read this right... it is known that the shooter got to NY and then stood in front of the Hilton for 30 min. ? This would have been over a week before the murder?

Yep

 

[BUF]

Per CNN, investigators honing in on shooters identity

Whatever that means at this time….

 

[whitelilac]

He didn’t mean that he personally knew this guy or anything, just that the driving force was a grievance that was personal to him.

There was no overkill, and this was all business.

To me, this couldn’t be more clear. And this guy is saying exactly what I’ve always thought, at least since we heard about the writing on those rounds.

A hit wouldn’t be done this way.

Knocking off a love rival or something, wouldn’t be done this way.

Grievance with the company, or something more ideological. I’m going with the former.

I'm going with the something more idealogical and as a grievance with the company in the sense he is making a statement against their tactics.
Certainly not anything to do with the CEO personally, nor being hired to off him by a lover, wife, or competitor etc.
Time will tell I guess.

 

[gitana1]

He didn’t mean that he personally knew this guy or anything, just that the driving force was a grievance that was personal to him.

There was no overkill, and this was all business.

To me, this couldn’t be more clear. And this guy is saying exactly what I’ve always thought, at least since we heard about the writing on those rounds.

A hit wouldn’t be done this way.

Knocking off a love rival or something, wouldn’t be done this way.

Grievance with the company, or something more ideological. I’m going with the former.

I’m leaning toward that as well. However, I would imagine that if it’s personal, there could definitely be overkill, because of the passion involved in the motive.

That being said, there are people who ruminate for long periods and take decisive action due to personal, passionate motives, but do so in a methodical or clinical manner. Sort of like the guy in (what was it, Texas?) who blew himself up in a camper van.

 

[gitana1]

Per CNN, investigators honing in on shooters identity

Whatever that means at this time….

Whoa. They’re getting there.

 

[Deleted member 341776]

I just can't picture someone so upset about a family member that they'd flirt with the hostel clerk on such a personal mission. I'd expect someone that upset to be perpetually upset, withdrawn, and serious during the 10-day lead-up to the assassination.

Maybe it's true that an upset family member is also charming and flirty, but it's easier for me to see him as more detached from the task, like it's a job....with the perk of a friendly hostel clerk to chat with.

jmo

Plenty of people flirt and pursue casual encounters as a form of escapism. I don't find it any more unusual than if hearing the suspect had been seen drinking at a bar in the week leading up. What is unusual is that it led to getting caught on camera.

 

[Vegasgrl]

Has it occurred to anyone that it's a little odd that we haven't heard the name under which he registered at the hostel? Just that alias might ring a bell with someone--we all know friends' bar names or internet IDs. It's unlikely it would be helpful for the masses to know this, but it could be. Wonder why that hasn't been publicized?

I was hoping the ID was photocopied, and they would release a copy of the fake ID. Maybe whoever supplied the fake didn't know they were assisting in a murder. But, in my experience not all hostels copy your ID. However, even if he paid in cash, MOST hostels require a reservation with a deposit. If he didn't have a reservation, he was lucky to get a bed in NYC this time of year at hostel rates.

 

[BackInNewMexico]

CNN reporting they are now honing in on one individual (confirmed by two sources). No link as just breaking on TV.