NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #4

[IzzyBlanche]

This just leads more and more to a foreigner. No one recognizes him, no fingerprints can be tracked.

Snipped for focus.

Assuming you're (the generic you) are a law-abiding citizen without TSA Pre-Check, where would your fingerprints be on file to match to?

I can't think of anyplace mine would be at all, much less a place accessible to law enforcement.

 

[Oceans1111]

Re-upping that they should in tandem be doing a search for gun by Hernshead/Lady Pavillion. He would not have had time to drop gun by Bethesda Fountain + too many people at 7am + view corridor is too clear. He obviously had done research of his route and Hh/LP is a super fast detour with multiple areas of blocked site lines that would give him an opportunity to drop gun in lake without being noticed even at 7am. And would explain his decision to exit park @ 77th vs 85th.

 

[soap mama]

Apparently they have his jacket.. Was it in the backpack?

"Police now have the jacket the suspect who assassinated United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was wearing during the brazen shooting in Midtown, and are closing in on the killer, The Post has learned."

‘The net is tightening’ on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s suspected killer, NYC Mayor Adams says

Authorities are closing in on the suspect who assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, Mayor Adams said Saturday.

nypost.com

Yes the article said in the backpack along with other high end clothing. What was he wearing after he left Central Park?

 

[BrianJohnson]

In terms of motive perhaps it helps to think about why it was BT out of all the possible UHC or other corporate or healthcare executives? What is unique about him? Whose life would be better if BT specifically was no longer alive?

I think most likely scenario is a very senior exec involved in the insider trading scandal hiring a hitman because he/she thought BT would rat on them in order to get immunity/lesser punishment, such a senior exec would likely know BT’s plans/movements as daily contact with him

 

[getthefax]

Snipped for focus.

Assuming you're (the generic you) are a law-abiding citizen without TSA Pre-Check, where would your fingerprints be on file to match to?

I can't think of anyplace mine would be at all, much less a place accessible to law enforcement.

Your driver’s license (in CA at least), if you’re a teacher, or have security clearance, or have a concealed carry permit…

A few places.

 

[getthefax]

I looked at it a bunch of times, and just couldn’t tell. I think getting shot in the back with a 9mm would make me stumble too— it’s really hard to see on my regular phone.

I’ve been corrected:

1) rear of left thigh
2-3) victim’s back

 

[acutename]

I am not claiming the gun was ever manufactured for veterinary purposes.
In fact, I argued earlier that the gun was marketed like that to sneak it past censors who might object to a suppressor being built in.

Nobody needs a $5700 gun to dispatch animals. My point was that he may have chosen a gun that was branded as a “veterinary gun” as a bit of irony because the killer may have seen himself —in committing this act of murder— as putting down a sick or wounded animal.

It also happens that this gun is based on guns used by British assassins in World War II, breaks down conveniently into multiple parts for easy concealment and disposal.

That was my argument.

EBM for horrendous typos generated by voice to text software.

what if he dropped one part down a storm sewer and then tossed the other parts in similar places... maybe even in other cities if he was on a bus? could he have found places where he would not be on camera?

 

[citizen_sleuth]

It's very difficult.
You need a fake birth certificate. When I obtained a passport, I needed an "original birth certificate". I had to order it online and it was produced electronically with seals and whatnot.

I highly doubt he was able to obtain a fake passport. I would, however, be very interested to know how convincing the fake NJ driver’s license was.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

"Police have learned that the suspect took a taxi to the Port Authority bus facility at 178th Street and boarded a bus out of New York City following the shooting, according to police.

The bus the suspect is believed to have boarded out of the city made six or seven stops, and investigators have followed leads in multiple states, the sources said." UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: Police search Central Park pond for evidence

but...
The bus the suspect is believed to have boarded out of the city.

Like everything so far, very ambiguous and skeptical.

 

[ElizaKate]

New CCTV footage at 1:42. Cycling up 6th avenue after the murder before entering Central Park. (LE has previously referenced footage from this time but not released)

 

[Arkay]

Why go all the way to New York and carry out such detailed planning when same person could shoot him in Minnesota on his driveway or something, just doesn’t add up for me

He felt it had to be televised is the only thing I can think about…

Still catching up here, but yes, IMO it was meant to be epic.

No offense to anyone but if a successful businessman was murdered near his home in Minnesota, that would make the news here (NYC) for maybe half a day.

Doing this live, flagrantly, on camera in the heart of midtown Manhattan makes it a “stop the presses” type of story….huge news with worldwide ramifications.

Businesses are “shook.” Our city is the epicenter of finance and the repercussions spread from here.

JMO

 

[Friday Fan]

Do you have any examples? The coverage is spelled out in detail what is and is not covered. Insurance companies process and pay claims as outlined in the policy. If there is a mistake, a claim can be appealed.

Network emergency rooms where on-call docs and support staff are "out of network". Same with surgery (support staff), labs and radiology etc. Given a med in the ER that is not covered. They only check your coverage when you check in. The facility does not try to hunt down on-call docs that are on your plan. You are on your own.

I had a hospital visit where the on-call doc that saw me on the weekend was "out of network". My doctor was "in-network", but the on-call doctor wasn't. Cost me $800. Fortunately, my case wasn't complicated. Just imagine being in the hospital and trying to make sure that everyone who provides any type of care for you is "in network"? Radiologists, anesthesiologists, support services, on-call docs, you name it. The list goes on.

Those are some examples.

"Medically necessary" is a vague term and subjective. There are lots of loopholes for denial.

 

[99cats]

I've only stayed at the Amsterdam and 103rd hostel in 1999 for a week or so, but there were tons of Americans staying there, tourists from California, older sad men, a proselytizer with culty religion of his own invention, people between jobs. There was some wing with weekly or monthly rates, I think. I had had a difficult time finding anything I could afford in or close to Manhattan. Only a spartan $600/mo room in Astoria, in some boarding house by an unfriendly Polish guy. Turned down for all the places I applied for. (Ended up living in a room in an extended Dominican family's big rent-controlled apartment around 160th and Broadway for $70 a week.) Now that housing and hotel prices are completely out of control in NY, I can't imagine it would be any different.

Interesting - I wonder if things I have changed? I stayed in hostels from about 2010-2019, in Boston, SF, Portland OR, Portland ME, Chicago, New Orleans, and a few other places and it was primarily international travelers. Usually folks are just staying for a few days - a week, and I believe most hostels have time limits for stays (I.e.: 2 weeks). At least the hostels I've stayed at have been aimed at partying/meeting new people or digital nomads - the emphasis has never specifically been about saving money.

I feel like Americans are much more apt to opt for hotels or AirBNBs over hostels, though, especially those traveling domestically. There's certainly some who experienced hostel culture if they had backpacked in the past, but there's such a small percentage of Americans who can both afford to backpack and have the time to devote to it. It just seems like it's not part of the culture here - and folks are much more likely to book a room further away and drive in to save money then get a bed at a hostel.

 

[acutename]

Your driver’s license (in CA at least), if you’re a teacher, or have security clearance, or have a concealed carry permit…

A few places.

some countries now finger print you when entering... and USA on returning from abroad...this person might have researched this...

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I agree. It seems it's by the lake at the north end of the mall. ?? That is not south of the carousel as previously reported.

If he threw the gun in the lake, he wasn't on the route I thought he was.

Eventually we will know, but I want the details now.

jmo

I think this is what is soooooooooo frustrating....
So many things are stated and then are re-stated "not...as previously reported"

 

[SlimPickens]

4 executives, including Thompson's own CEO (of the larger UHG), were purportedly under investigation. I hope they and those close to them are being meticulously ruled out.

JMO.

 

[EBW321]

I'm surprised we've heard nothing about the way he spoke. We know he talked to people during his stay but we hear nothing of or about his voice or accent. He talked to someone at Starbucks, at least one taxi driver, someone who sold him a Greyhound ticket, the clerk at the hostel during check-in.

One of the points made early on here on WS against the idea of the killer being a foreign national was: why would someone outside the US fly in and kill a US health insurance CEO? One possibility is to sow fear, reduce confidence and increase discontent – a thing that many governments do or have done in countries they perceive as hostile. In this case, it sounds far-fetched (even to me) but perhaps it's possible.

Agreed. They obviously know now whether he spoke English with American accent of some sort or a foreign accent. I saw interview of another guy at hostel. He said he had 3-4 roommates. Someone heard him speak. Starbucks barista , front desk girl, the roommates. Taxi driver. Someone on first bus.

And why not release entire video from hostel surveillance to show mannerisms during the pulling down of mask to flirt.

Just odd not to release more of that video unless LE knows more than they are saying they do.

Moo

 

[arielilane]

On Nov. 24, the shooter arrived in NYC, as caught on surveillance camera.

So where did shooter spend Thanksgiving Day? Did a family miss spending the day with their son, brother, uncle on Thanksgiving Day?

MSN

 

[soap mama]

Snipped for focus.

Assuming you're (the generic you) are a law-abiding citizen without TSA Pre-Check, where would your fingerprints be on file to match to?

I can't think of anyplace mine would be at all, much less a place accessible to law enforcement.

When i did a background check to work in the public schools.

 

[shetalksinstereo]

There are several people that could have a motive:

Wife- Sure, the motive could be there based on fear of him losing his job and assets but given that he had not been charged of any crime at the time of the murder, I do not think she had any involvement in this.

Disgruntled ex-employee or UHC client- I agree with previously mentioned thoughts on this. The pictures and videos do not look like someone that was irate or distraught. It looks like someone carrying out a job to me. He remained cool, calm, and collected the entire time, and I would have expected this kind of suspect to act more impulsively. There was too much planning involved, and the cost of this 10+ day adventure just does not fit either of these suspect types to me.

Ransomware attackers- Maybe, but why choose to murder someone this time? What else do they need to gain?

Who has something to lose right now?

I feel like it would be more likely for it to be someone that was impacted by the insider trading scandal. I strongly feel like someone inside of UHC wanted him dead. The suspect could have shot someone else in the 5-minutes waiting outside, but it was meant for BT. Even if he were walking from next door, given that he has been receiving death threats, I feel like the suspect had to know he would not have security with him, and I feel like he was tipped off on the call. If the suspect were expecting an entourage of security detail, he would have chosen a different style of weapon, like an automatic one, IMO. One of my friends works in a large corporation and was shocked that BT did not have security and said that their buildings are so protected by security, that you cannot even access the C execs floors as an employee. It seems like BT would have extra security given the threats and travel.

Look at the others being investigated and look up their annual compensation packages compared to BT’s. If you were wanting to send a message to UHC specifically, would you have chosen BT or the highest paid? If BT was not as involved or had an opportunity to make a plea deal, someone with more to lose would have the biggest motive I would believe. I looked up the meanings of “depose” and the first two things that come up are “Remove from office suddenly and forcefully; testify or give evidence on oath.”

I have been back and forth on the type of suspect, but I am leaning more towards calculated and professional. One of the videos looks like he just places the trash there to be found. With that big of a backpack, he could have put his trash in the bag. Leaving one thing behind, okay, a mistake, but so much “evidence” being found? I do not think this was careless, but the suspect wanted to leave a trail of “evidence” behind to throw LE off and give him more time to escape. The suspect almost looks like he has a slight limp in his left leg and does not look like he is a pro at riding an electric bike. I believe he took his mask off and smiled because he was asked to, and he would have looked more suspicious if he did not comply. We’ve seen him walking, biking, riding a bus, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he came off a boat or plane from somewhere else either.

IMO

I would also include "vendor", someone doing business or lost business with UHC.