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

[Inthedetails]

I am creeped out by the idea that his first 30 minutes in the city were spent outside the Hilton. He scoped out the murder site before checking into the hostel. I'm sure he was checking out cameras on buildings around the hotel and plotting his movements. imo

And then he committed murder in full view of a camera.

Shudder. That is cold and creepy calculation. He purposely wanted the murder (and himself, tbh) to be seen.

That was not a sloppy mistake, but purposeful. imo

jmo

 

[judithannegg]

I'm still leaning towards BT setting up the murder himself.
1. Scheduled it for NY so that it will be far away from his wife and kids. He knows it will be bad for them either way, but setting it up in NY is almost like a buffer between the two places so that locals don't have to deal with it, hence involving his family. Anyone looking to kill him would find it easier in the small suburb in Minnesota: less cameras, less traffic, less police experience in these kinds of killings. So much easier in Maple Grove, Minnesota than NYC, NY.
2. He was under investigation with insider trading. Maybe he was afraid the money would be taken from him, thus his kids and estranged wife would be left with nothing, plus the shame of him being found guilty and possibly going to jail. He would rather die than go to jail or his boys be ashamed of him. Plus he had life insurance going to them.
3. Shooter had no qualms about going to Starbucks less than 30 minutes before shooting. He had no worries about "missing" the timeframe of BT walking out, so he knew absolutely what time BT would walk out. How? Only BT would know as no one was with him. Even if a bellman would tip him off, he sure as heck would not be hanging out getting a latte and missing the chance when bellman would call him with the tip "Hey, he just got off the elevator." I think he was on the phone with BT himself who said "I'm heading down right now. And I've got on a bright blue blazer."
4. BT wore a bright blue jacket -- not something a CEO going to a conference would wear. Plus it was frigid. BT worth millions. Would have had a nice suit, plus overcoat. And I don't think BT had any kind of bag with him. Most people going to a daylong conference would have his laptop bag. I think BT knew he was NOT going to need his laptop, so he left it behind. BT was 50 years old. Young enough to be very techy savvy. My adult kids and my husband all rely on their laptops at work: leaving it in a hotel room while going off to work for a day in NYC would make no sense at all.
5. Hitman was in NYC for 10 days. I think he was given $$ ahead of time. Thought, well, I might as well visit NYC because they will be looking for me afterwards, so I'll just go early and see the sights. BT was in town for just one day conference, so it's not like Hitman was looking at BT's regular activity for ten days.
6. Bullets being labeled was a setup to let everyone think it's a disgruntled insurancee or their family member.
7. BT used to have security. Why not in NYC?
8. Hitman seemed too casual to be on a personal vendetta. More of a professional hitman who knew he had a job to do, but was experienced enough that this was not too big of a deal. If I was wanting revenge for a loved one or for myself, I would be focused on getting the job done: in Maple Grove closer to his home so his loved ones could experience the pain I had closer to them, not seeing the sights in NYC, not smiling at the hostel employee, not smiling at all. NYC is way too expensive to do a hit there and everyone knows there are cameras everywhere. Doing it in Maple Grove would have been so much easier and less newsworthy.

All JMO

 

[clearskies1]

Lifelong Manhattan resident, and yes, this is most known as a commute-to-NJ station. I live downtown and I think I've taken a bus from that station two or three times in my life. It's not the type of place that a person from far away would necessarily know about.

I've lived in the city 30 years and did not know that bus station existed until yesterday. His planning has been next level. Possible he knew about it before hand, but very possible it was something he learned about while planning -- how to exit the city quickly at a less-monitored transportation hub.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Is there anyone who saw the hostel photo and blvd this to be a woman?

I saw some posters here saying that the other day.

 

[Torbs]

Still think the strangest part of the suspect’s escape is using the GW bus station. That is little more than a commuter terminal for people who live in northern NJ and work in NYC. It’s not a hub for an airport or really to go anywhere far away. Whether he simply took a dollar van to the other side of the bridge or an NJTransit bus somewhere into the suburbs it demonstrates a heightened familiarity with the area (or that he had an accomplice who picked him up.) For example, if his destination was EWR it would be. 2-hour trip that requires two busses, two trains, and some walking. That just doesn’t seem realistic in the least.

 

[gemini614]

Is there anyone who saw the hostel photo and blvd this to be a woman?

I've been going back and forth to that picture several times in the last 24 hrs, and yes keep saying to myself "could this be a female"? Def androgynous features, but I do believe they are male.

 

[justtrish]

Still think the strangest part of the suspect’s escape is using the GW bus station. That is little more than a commuter terminal for people who live in northern NJ and work in NYC. It’s not a hub for an airport or really to go anywhere far away. Whether he simply took a dollar van to the other side of the bridge or an NJTransit bus somewhere into the suburbs it demonstrates a heightened familiarity with the area (or that he had an accomplice who picked him up.) For example, if his destination was EWR it would be. 2-hour trip that requires two busses, two trains, and some walking. That just doesn’t seem realistic in the least.

I wonder if he knew this would be the fastest way to just get out of that immediate area and maybe away from all the cameras that were able to track his movements. Once over in NJ he could get away without being seen on camera in a cab, bike, or walking.

 

[PuzzlinEvidence]

Still think the strangest part of the suspect’s escape is using the GW bus station. That is little more than a commuter terminal for people who live in northern NJ and work in NYC.

Coupled with the fake ID from NJ, it might suggest he's from there.

 

[Elley Mae]

The bag was recovered south of the carousel near Heckscher playground and looks similar to the gray backpack worn by the shooter when he opened fire on Thompson, 50, outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown on Wednesday, sources said.

NYPD finds bag possibly belonging to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer

Investigators did not open the bag and sent it straight to the lab for testing.

nypost.com

 

[Inthedetails]

I've lived in the city 30 years and did not know that bus station existed until yesterday. His planning has been next level. Possible he knew about it before hand, but very possible it was something he learned about while planning -- how to exit the city quickly at a less- monitored transportation hub.

It's known, imo, to people who go back and forth to Jersey but for whom Times Square isn't convenient. The GWB terminal doesn't service other destinations.

To me, using the GWB bus station shows a NJ connection, whether he lives there or someone he knows in NJ gave him info. Maybe an upper Manhattan connection, but I'm leaning toward Jersey.

jmo

 

[GRT]

Where do you think the killer was between Nov 24 and Nov 30?
According to ABC:

Nov. 24​

The killer entered New York City by bus on Nov. 24, when a surveillance camera at Port Authority Bus Terminal caught his arrival at 9 p.m., law enforcement sources told ABC News.
.....
He likely checked into a hostel on New York City's Upper West Side that day and later checked out, sources said.

And then...

Nov. 30​

The suspect likely checked back into the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side on Nov. 30, sources said.

 

[freewill_is_an_illusion]

Has anyone thought that the words on the bullet cases could be a deliberate distraction? Seems a very obvious way to get the public and media excited about a people's vigilante, when in fact it could be a money related hit? (e.g. BT was going to somehow damage the company, or someone wanted an insurance payout)

 

[andalso]

Once LE figures out who he is, he would be found easily if he's traveling abroad with his real passport. When I visited Peru, for example, I had to present my passport just to get on a bus.

But if he lives in a country with no extradition then he could just use his real passport and be gone for good.
IMO the person is from the US.
ETA: didn't mean to quote 2x but don't know how to fix either so I'm leaving it.

Once LE figures out who he is, he would be found easily if he's traveling abroad with his real passport. When I visited Peru, for example, I had to present my passport just to get on a bus.

 

[Nikynoo]

Is there anyone who saw the hostel photo and blvd this to be a woman?

No. The eyebrows give the gender away.

 

[Inthedetails]

No. The eyebrows give the gender away.

And his hands and the shadow of the mustache.

jmo

 

[clearskies1]

Still think the strangest part of the suspect’s escape is using the GW bus station. That is little more than a commuter terminal for people who live in northern NJ and work in NYC. It’s not a hub for an airport or really to go anywhere far away. Whether he simply took a dollar van to the other side of the bridge or an NJTransit bus somewhere into the suburbs it demonstrates a heightened familiarity with the area (or that he had an accomplice who picked him up.) For example, if his destination was EWR it would be. 2-hour trip that requires two busses, two trains, and some walking. That just doesn’t seem realistic in the least.

Greyhound operates out of the GWB bus station, with buses to Philly, Boston and DC. Other bus operators are also there with other routes. From the GWB bus station website -- bus gates & routes:

NJ Transit:
Gates 11-18

• Route 171: Gate 12
• Route 175: Gate 13
• Route 178: Gate 17
• Route 181: Gate 14
• Route 182: Gate 18
• Route 186: Gate 15
• Route 188: Gate 11

Express/Spanish Transportation:
Gates 9, 10, 20, 21

• Bergenline: Gate 9 & 10
• Paterson: Gate 20 & 21

Greyhound:
Gates 6-8

• Service to Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC.

Rockland Coach/Red & Tan:
Gate 1

• Route 9A/AT

OurBus:
Gate 2

• Service to Ithaca, Binghamton, Syracuse.

Field Trips 101 (OurBus):
Gates 2,3

• Service to Binghamton, Ithaca, Geneva-Waterloo, Rochester, Buffalo, Niagara Falls (Connection to Scarborough, ON-Toronto).

Niagara Scenic Tours (OurBus):
Gates 2,3

• Service to Binghamton, Sayre, Elmira, Corning, Geneseo, Batavia, Buffalo Airport, Buffalo. George Washington Bridge Bus Station

 

[Inthedetails]

Greyhound operates out of the GW bus station, with buses to Philly, Boston and DC. Other bus operators are also there with other routes. From the GWB bus station website -- bus gates & routes:

NJ Transit:
Gates 11-18

• Route 171: Gate 12
• Route 175: Gate 13
• Route 178: Gate 17
• Route 181: Gate 14
• Route 182: Gate 18
• Route 186: Gate 15
• Route 188: Gate 11

Express/Spanish Transportation:
Gates 9, 10, 20, 21

• Bergenline: Gate 9 & 10
• Paterson: Gate 20 & 21

Greyhound:
Gates 6-8

• Service to Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC.

Rockland Coach/Red & Tan:
Gate 1

• Route 9A/AT

OurBus:
Gate 2

• Service to Ithaca, Binghamton, Syracuse.

Field Trips 101 (OurBus):
Gates 2,3

• Service to Binghamton, Ithaca, Geneva-Waterloo, Rochester, Buffalo, Niagara Falls (Connection to Scarborough, ON-Toronto).

Niagara Scenic Tours (OurBus):
Gates 2,3

• Service to Binghamton, Sayre, Elmira, Corning, Geneseo, Batavia, Buffalo Airport, Buffalo. George Washington Bridge Bus Station

That is news to me and might come in handy - thanks!

 

[Nikynoo]

Where do you think the killer was between Nov 24 and Nov 30?
According to ABC:



And then...

This is interesting isn’t it (unless it’s sloppy reporting), why did he check out and why check back in again OR did he stay somewhere else for one night? Is there a limit on the continuous number of nights you can stay at that hostel?

Is it possible he is still in NYC? Eg gone back to his normal life?

 

[Fromeaster]

I am very intrigued by his persona. Young, athletic, fast, expensive clothes. Rides a bike, eats a granola bar

 

[flowershop]

^ what's intriguing to me is there are too many mistakes in an otherwise disciplined killing and escape....
dropping the water bottle, wrappers, dumping or losing the phone, the item placed on the garbage bag beside the sidewalk, we will see about the backpack if it's useful too.
One mistake/accident is understandable but here it's as though it didn't matter to him as though he knows they won't lead to him as solid evidence.

The REAL mistake though was removing the mask, not even considering there was a camera which is normal in a reception area. The girl must have charmed him out of thinking.......a weakness.

I also wonder if he perceived a hostel as a point of lesser security, than say, a hotel.