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

[citizen_sleuth]

They've had that backpack for nearly a day now. It's been X-rayed and opened, yet they've not disclosed anything yet. I would have thought they'd at least make mention of whether the gun was retrieved or not.

Based on the fact they are currently searching the pond in Central Park, I would guess the gun was not in the backpack.

 

[eloquence]

They've had that backpack for nearly a day now. It's been X-rayed and opened, yet they've not disclosed anything yet. I would have thought they'd at least make mention of whether the gun was retrieved or not.

IMO - the fact they are scuba diving in the lake so quickly leads me to believe the backpack did not contain something they were looking for. Could be the gun.

 

[Friday Fan]

(I wonder how difficult it is to get a fake passport.)

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.

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

"New York Post reports" being the operative part. Tabloid.

Right, I don’t find New York Post to be a reputable news organization.

 

[MassGuy]

They've had that backpack for nearly a day now. It's been X-rayed and opened, yet they've not disclosed anything yet. I would have thought they'd at least make mention of whether the gun was retrieved or not.

They really haven’t been saying much of anything. Most of what we know comes from confidential police sources, and the news media is basically a “B team” skeleton crew on the weekends, which means we aren’t hearing what we would otherwise hear.

 

[krikken]

Agreed. At almost every hostel I've stayed at in the US, most of the other visitors were international travelers. The Americans I have met in US-based hostels have been longer term travelers, with a smattering of retirees who primarily stay in single rooms. They're usually located in areas frequented by international travelers as well.

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.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

ok? what's the purpose of defending health insurance companies in this thread? the point is the anger is real and is almost definitely the motive here.

Posters explaining how health insurance works doesn't necessarily mean that they are defending the companies. Explanation where some may not understand is a good thing, IMO.

I believe that most people don't read their health insurance contracts just like they don't read their homeowner's insurance policies until after the fact. At least, I know that is what I am guilty of doing.

Because health insurance companies are made out to be the villains, I suspect if a procedure is covered (stated in the contract) and then denied through the appeal process and ends up in court, the insurance company will be heavily penalized.

Look at P, G & E utility company in CA that was polluting ground and water. They were sued, and the residents of Hinckley, CA, were paid a substantial amount of money. Juries would surely do the same (and probably have) done the same for health insurance lawsuits.

JMO.

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

I am wondering if they can keep details of the investigation from Adams? Seems foolish to share things with him.

This gentleman (who I knew nothing about before this case started; I have been familiarising myself by reading articles about him and his Wikipedia page - I am not impressed) is starting to feel like a burden in the communication side of this investigation. He sounds as if he's just too eager to get that photo op with the ''killer apprehended'' banner close to him asap. He needs to curb his enthusiasm and exercise some discretion. Jmoo.

 

[whitelilac]

They have.

Jacket was found inside. Gun not recovered.

‘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

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: Suspect's backpack had Monopoly money: Sources

The manhunt for the suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has now entered its fourth day as authorities learn more about his movements before the attack.

abcnews.go.com

Thank you...missed that.
"Meanwhile, the backpack the killer wore contained a jacket and “high-end” apparel, law enforcement sources revealed Saturday."
no word on the "heavy" item then.

 

[Forest_Wood]

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.

The smiling face picture looked like a female to me. Yes, androgynous features. Here's a thought: maybe it's a trans person who's claim was denied for surgery/treatment.
MOO.

 

[MassGuy]

They have.

Jacket was found inside. Gun not recovered.

‘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

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: Suspect's backpack had Monopoly money: Sources

The manhunt for the suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has now entered its fourth day as authorities learn more about his movements before the attack.

abcnews.go.com

Meanwhile, the backpack the killer wore contained a jacket and “high-end” apparel, law enforcement sources revealed Saturday.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

Thank you...missed that.
"Meanwhile, the backpack the killer wore contained a jacket and “high-end” apparel, law enforcement sources revealed Saturday."
no word on the "heavy" item then.

The backpack itself is quite heavy. Or heavier than a normal backpack would be. My son has the exact same one ironically.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Kind of a summary of all that is known thus far along with timeline.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/07/us/suspect-search-unitedhealthcare-ceo/index.html

 

[krikken]

If they have an idea who this perp is, then yes, the DNA on the backpack and the water bottle will finish him, most likely.

If it has to go to IGG, that's a longer bet and depends a lot on his background. If he knows that some of his relatives are the type to submit to open databases, he would be better off skipping the country ASAP. He needs to avoid that cheek swab.

I get the feeling that this is a man who values outsmarting LE and is treating each day at large as a bonus to having completed his main goal (revenge). That makes him a bit of Tom Ripley character.

I showed his picture to some students and they said there was nothing memorable about him and they doubted they could remember that "average face." One asked if it was Bryan Kohberger and said he resembles him. While some people are excellent at storing databases of faces, most people aren't.

He can rely on a hoodie and a scarf to mask a lot of what is distinctive about him. He's probably not going to be smiling in public so frequently.

I too believe he went "back home" (where ever that is) and will wait this out. I predict he's something of a loner, but does have family somewhere (but they are unlikely to turn him in). He will likely change his hair and grow facial hair. As time passes, the average Joe Public will not remember or recognize him - but LE will be looking for him.

If he was able to leave the country before the entire story broke, that would make this a very well-planned assassination indeed. I am assuming that JFK no longer has luggage lockers, but I too have pondered whether he had another backpack stashed out in the park, not far from where he dropped the first one. I also ponder if he masked his fingerprints (easy enough to do).

IMO

Excellent take

 

[Jinkasaurus]

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 am not Sherlock H.]

Adams backtracking. I’m sure law enforcement let him know they weren’t happy with his comments:

An Update from the New York Post on the Reuters report this afternoon which stated New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ said police knew the name of the suspect in the Brian Thompson murder investigation

“We don’t want to release that now,” Adams said. “If we do, we are basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask. We revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and we’re going to bring him to justice.”

The mayor’s office later clarified his answer to explain that he meant officials didn’t want to say whether or not they have the killer’s name.

The mayor also commended the “tri-state law enforcement partnership” for the investigation so far.

“And the manner in which they were able to follow his footsteps to recover evidence – some of it is known, some of it is unknown – but the net is tightening and we’re going to bring this person to justice,“ Adams said.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1865506005569687962

Absolutely no words and SMH over this latest. And with the Mayor of NYC. Unbelievable.

Well…. a few words. Why am I reminded of the DA in the Karen Read case and the DA in the Suzanne Morphew case? Some individuals simply do not know when not to speak. And best I stop here.

I am often told that is why there is a mute button on the TV. MOO

 

[getthefax]

Thank you...missed that.
"Meanwhile, the backpack the killer wore contained a jacket and “high-end” apparel, law enforcement sources revealed Saturday."
no word on the "heavy" item then.

I believe the wording was off in that article, and that the backpack was the heavy item…

 

[K.jill]

Hahahha it’s tough because the detectives report to higher ups, and the higher ups report to the mayor’s office.

I think he got the message after this gaffe. Hopefully.

Yeah, I hope he gets the message. This is a very bad look for him. Embarrassing and could complicate things for the people trying to apprehend the shooter.

 

[Forest_Wood]

I like this theory. I'll just add that in the video, with BT in a bright-blue, very not CEO-like jacket, he's walking weirdly. Not a brisk, getting where he's going type of walk, yet not a gawking tourist walk. It's a stiff, slow walk. Like you know something is going to happen but you're not sure exactly when.

I noticed the same thing! Almost like he was expecting it. As he passed right by the shooter, who must have been right there beside or behind that vehicle parked. MOO

 

[wibbleflea]

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

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.