NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #5

[Simply Southern]

The unmasked photos are called the "money shots" because he only removed his mask to flirt. He wasn't disguised at that time - didn't expect flirting, but couldn't resist.

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I believe he was ask to remove his mask during check-in to verify with his ID. I think he grinned and probably made a comment ....does it look like me, thus the cheesy smile. Moo....

 

[Elley Mae]

The unmasked photos are called the "money shots" because he only removed his mask to flirt. He wasn't disguised at that time - didn't expect flirting, but couldn't resist.

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Must have ditched the black scarf/face covering, cab photos he has surgical mask.

 

[otto]

So I think he's mid 20's, Middle eastern or Mediterranean heritage, lives somewhere on the east coast (Atlanta or points north).

Grudge with this specific company. Imagines himself as some sort of movie antihero assassin (silenced weapon, Monopoly money, rounds with words written on them). Into fashion. Meticulous with his appearance. Disciplined. Intelligent.

I don't think his beef was with this particular victim, rather, I think it's with what he symbolized. I say that because if he did have it out for this guy, he'd just hit him in his home state. It would be much easier, and much less risky.

This is an ego thing for him, which is why he chose committing this crime in that place, and in that way. He wanted it to be caught on camera. It's practical as well, as what better way to get his message across?

I think he's graduated college, perhaps currently in some postgrad program. He has access to money, as his clothing, backpack, and the trip itself were quite expensive.

None of this really gets us anywhere, but I just wanted to put this in writing for when these questions are answered.

Brian Thompson might be more diligent regarding his security detail at home. It was a short walk that morning, and maybe he felt anonymous in NYC.

Maybe there was better access to him when he attends a conference. How often did he wander away from his security detail during conferences?

The shooter seems like an interesting person. Meticulous with detail, intelligent with a sense of humour, risk taker that may be ego, and determined to make his point loud and clear while expecting to get away with it.

 

[snarast]

I don't think the pictures are all that different from each other. It's normal to look a bit different with lighting changes, picture resolution and saturation level, different angles, details, even facial structure to some degree, and facial expressions.

Of course - this kind of goes without saying to anyone who’s tried to look attractive in front of a camera.

But IMO we can’t tell for sure - only one of the images meets a decent pixel density.

 

[Simply Southern]

Must have ditched the black scarf/face covering, cab photos he has surgical mask.

Smart move changing to a surgical mask. Many come to NYC for medical care, probably wouldn't be questioned riding a bus. Lots of folks receiving chemo wear surgical mask.

This guy's smart this is well thought out.

Moo

 

[darkstar105]

I can't think of a famous person executed in Midtown since the mob days, when Paul Castellano was murdered in front of Sparks Steak House (DBM)

John Lennon?

 

[IzzyBlanche]

He went to Starbucks. He went to McDonalds. He buys and wears high-end clothing/items. He's not anti-capitalist he's anti UnitedHealthcare MOO.

<ETA noted re. hypocritical anti-capitalists. I still believe his issue is with UHC not capitalism though as some others theorise>

Maybe already asked and answered, but he went to McDonald's? I haven't seen that.

 

[TailSpin]

I agree. He looks arrogant.

Perhaps arrogance but certainly exhibits a high level of discipline. It takes conviction and confidence for a young intelligent person to risk a lifetime in prison (or being shot to death) over what I suspect is a denial of an insurance claim for a 3rd party.

 

[Tricia]

Please do not comment on the victim's personality or how his co-workers/family felt about him. We need to stop commenting on him personally. We are a victim friendly forum.
Thank you.

 

[otto]

Not a great job (and admittedly it's a bit "uncanny valley") because I did this in like two minutes on my laptop, but I photoshopped the new image of the eyes from the cab on top of the "flirting" smile to give us a rough idea of what the perp looks like.

That looks great. What if you move the lower part of the face more to his right and down 2 bits?

 

[MassGuy]

Maybe already asked and answered, but he went to McDonald's? I haven't seen that.

Yes. I have it in my notes from a CNN broadcast:

John Miller:

He's on a bus that originates in Atlanta, but haven't established when he got on that bus. So Atlanta may not have been his starting point. It'll come together.

Gets here around the 24th, which puts him here a lot longer than previously believed. Checked into that hostel. Chats with clerk at the desk (flirty) she asked to see his face. That yielded the most significant clue to identify him.

Checks out of hostel and checks back in a day or two later (later learned it was an administrative checkout because he may not have returned on time). Goes to Hilton right away. Knows about the conference obviously.

Mask everywhere. Went to Mcdonalds. It's all about finding that weak moment where he takes down hood and mask. Haven't found that yet.

 

[whitelilac]

Of course - this kind of goes without saying to anyone who’s tried to look attractive in front of a camera.

But IMO we can’t tell for sure - only one of the images meets a decent pixel density.

I don't think the authorities would publish pictures if they weren't sure. They know for a fact he was at the hostel, at the Starbucks, and in that taxi. Detectives most certainly questioned the hostel receptionist and the two other guests in the room, the Starbucks personnel, and the taxi driver about his demeanor, clothing, behavior etc.

 

[helvetica]

Smart move changing to a surgical mask. Many come to NYC for medical care, probably wouldn't be questioned riding a bus. Lots of folks receiving chemo wear surgical mask.

This guy's smart this is well thought out.

Moo

All true, but on top of that worth pointing out it is far from rare to see someone wearing those in NYC or the surrounding areas. All types, all ages. Less than a few years ago, sure, but plenty of it around.

 

[flipp]

I noticed the highlighter, looks like brows are enhanced. Looks like under liner. I think he accentuated his eyes to distract from other features.
I thought his chin looked enhanced/prosthetic when he removed his mask. More than likely he has colored contacts.

He's smart and savvy. I do believe he was well disguised should he be required to remove this mask.
Moo....

right!?! the more I zoom in on the eyes the more I am convinced that is highlighter and under liner. I do a lot of photography and that is exactly how highlighter that hasn't been blended in well reads under eyebrows when hit with direct light.

I am starting to think whoever this is might even have stage experience. Whether drag or theatre, it takes a lot of meticulous planning and organizing to pull off stage shows as what seems to have gone into this murder. It would explain a lot of the theatrical elements behind it all too. It's like one large performance.

It's a very unusual murder; bordering on truth is stranger than fiction. It feels like a movie plot.
I am not condoning any of this by the way, just stating how it feels very performative.

 

[branmuffin]

These threads move so fast. Does anyone find it a bit weird that an individual who was in NYC to assassinate the CEO of a large medical insurance company would stay at a hostel? When I think of hostels I think of bare bones accommodation where you stay in dorms and share bathrooms. And everyone is kind of nosy or really friendly about where you're going, where you've been, what are your plans, etc. It certainly doesn't seem to be the kind of place that a guy who was going to go assassinate a CEO with a checklist of what he needed, when he needed them, how he was going to get from point A to B and do it with other people around. You certainly wouldn't be anonymous in a hostel. I looked up the HI Hostel and it basically follows that set up: dorm rooms for 4, 6, 8 people and up. And they share a bathroom. And they follow the hostel philosophy; welcome parties, hosting get-togethers, etc. There's a couple of rooms of private 4 bed rooms and one with a bathroom ensuite. That's it. So when this guy checked in, what room did he get? Would it seem odd if he asked for a private 4 bed room? Did he even stay there? Can you come and go at anytime during a 24 hour period? Would a guest be able to exit the hostel without going through the front entrance?

Then there's the issue with the e-bike and being seen carrying a bike battery. That seems to be the main anti-theft device for bike owners - take the battery with you. Sort of like how regular bike owners remove the seats sometimes to avoid thefts. So was he a bike owner/user or was he coming prepared to steal a bike that had no battery?

LE believe the bus he came to NYC on originated in Atlanta. LE is looking into when he boarded the bus assuming it was either from Atlanta or one of the transfer stops. There's buses that drive straight from Atlanta to NYC that take about 17 hours with minimum 5 comfort stops along the way and buses that take up to 30 hours with several transfers in Charlotte, Columbia or Raleigh. To make it even more complicated they have buses that transfer and stop in places like Washington, DC and Baltimore and Newark. So he could have gotten on in any of those locations.

It's difficult for me to see him planning this by himself. Yeah, he did walk up behind a man and shoot him in the back. He did that all by himself but where was he all those days between him arriving in NYC on the 24th and the killing? He was there for 10 days or at least left clues that gave the impression that he was in NYC for 10 days.

 

[Universecalling]

So I think he's mid 20's, Middle eastern or Mediterranean heritage, lives somewhere on the east coast (Atlanta or points north).

Grudge with this specific company. Imagines himself as some sort of movie antihero assassin (silenced weapon, Monopoly money, rounds with words written on them). Into fashion. Meticulous with his appearance. Disciplined. Intelligent.

I don't think his beef was with this particular victim, rather, I think it's with what he symbolized. I say that because if he did have it out for this guy, he'd just hit him in his home state. It would be much easier, and much less risky.

This is an ego thing for him, which is why he chose committing this crime in that place, and in that way. He wanted it to be caught on camera. It's practical as well, as what better way to get his message across?

I think he's graduated college, perhaps currently in some postgrad program. He has access to money, as his clothing, backpack, and the trip itself were quite expensive.

None of this really gets us anywhere, but I just wanted to put this in writing for when these questions are answered.

Agreed. What baffles me is the lack of recognition/admission by those from his community. Especially from his generation. Glued to their phones and searching for the next viral moment. Im sure people have come forward, but at this stage you’d think there’d be gen z treasure trove of tik toks saying “know this guy! He was in my class!”
All this, of course, under the assumption he went school here.
Just such an intriguing case all around.

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

Mask everywhere. Went to Mcdonalds. It's all about finding that weak moment where he takes down hood and mask. Haven't found that yet.

I find it puzzling for lack of a better word that he went to McDonalds, Starbucks (such typical American companies), was wearing a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, and it now turns out he actually spent more time in NYC than previously thought. The type of things a tourist (from a country with not many American brands/companies available at home) visiting the US for the first time would do. I don't know if it is simply coincidence or there's something in all this that LE can ''read'' to try finding him.

 

[snarast]

I don't think the authorities would publish pictures if they weren't sure. They know for a fact he was at the hostel, at the Starbucks, and in that taxi. Detectives most certainly questioned the hostel receptionist and the two other guests in the room, the Starbucks personnel, and the taxi driver about his demeanor, clothing, behavior etc.

Maybe. I’m just not very trusting.

 

[EBW321]

As much as I firmly believe he was not wearing a mask or prosthetics or makeup in the getaway cab photos.

I just saw someone point this out on X. And now I can’t unsee it or decide if he may actually have noticed something big. I’m still on the fence.

What do you think?

The man on X points to the neck in this photo and says it looks like the neck part of the mask is not tucked in. Upon zooming in… the neck does look very odd… could just be camera angle.

I was very dismissive of this possibility….

What are your thoughts?

 

[TailSpin]

I assume staying at a hostel makes it easier to stay without using a credit card. Hotels usally require a credit card for a reservation and incidentals even if you pay cash when you check out. It's one thing to fake an ID, but not so easy to fake a working credit card under that same fake name.