NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #6

[MassGuy]

Would lithium batteries be allowed inside a hostel or hotel?

They may have a policy against it, but guns are likely banned as well. Didn't stop him.

 

[clorenc]

I think many people are UNDERestimating the capabilities of LE. We already know the FBI is assisting with the investigation, and I’d be surprised if the US Marshals aren’t assisting as well.

They found Kaitlin Armstrong at an off-the-beaten-path hostel in Costa Rica after she fled the country (and after she had plastic surgery to change her appearance). Burner phones can be traced to their point of sale. Genetic genealogy was utilized to locate and arrest the illegal immigrant from El Salvador (aka “a foreigner”) who killed Rachel Morin — in less than ten months. And LE has 20x the amount of manpower working on this case. Complex investigations often take time, but I have all the confidence in the world they’ll eventually catch up with this guy.

But LE, including the FBI, did not find Aaron Aung for more than a month (until a suspicious witness reported him to Mexican authorities).

I don’t doubt that LE probably has a lot more manpower on this case, but this shooter is undoubtedly a much more sophisticated criminal than Aaron and Kaitlin Armstrong.

They might identify him soon, but I think he has successfully slowed them down enough to be long gone out of the country by now.

 

[eddie_van]

It's likely the law has the killer's name. They just don't release information. The United States Marshal Service (US Marshals) are going to snap this guy like a trap. They are unbelievably talented . Excellent. Skilled. Kind and SMART !!!
The best of the best. They walk among us.

Thanks to All true law enforcement. Snap and done,they put the bracelets on another killer.


jmo moo

if they had the name they'd release it, imo

 

[MassGuy]

if they had the name they'd release it, imo

History says they wouldn't, unless they didn't know where he was.

 

[eddie_van]

History says they wouldn't, unless they didn't know where he was.

i don't think they know much of anything
they're gonna have to rely on AI facial recognition technology and DNA familial analysis to solve this one

 

[branmuffin]

I would never be able to handle hearing strangers snore, burp, fart

Totally agree. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[Knox]

History says they wouldn't, unless they didn't know where he was.

No way they are showing all their cards. We’ll see the royal flush after the arrest.

The wild speculation, ridiculous conspiracy theories and cruel comments about Brian’s death (not here at WS) are shocking.

 

[RookieWebsleuth2024]

i don't think they know much of anything
they're gonna have to rely on AI facial recognition technology and DNA familial analysis to solve this one

In my opinion, DNA is their only bet. I don't think AI would be admissible in court. What would also play a role would be if the girl at the hostel is asked to identify him from a lineup.

 

[LaylaD]

It feels like this needs to be pinned to the top of every thread. Along with a lot of other basic info...but thank you for explaining this again!

A public notice of the investor conference was posted on 11/26 on UHC’s website. Yes, a closed meeting, but not an unknown meeting.

UnitedHealth Group to Host 2024 Investor Conference

UnitedHealth Group will host its annual Investor Conference for analysts and institutional investors in New York City on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST.

www.unitedhealthgroup.com

 

[branmuffin]

They may have a policy against it, but guns are likely banned as well. Didn't stop him.

True, but he may not have actually had the weapon until the morning of the murder.

 

[phi1ip]

I keep wondering about his motive(s).

Like everyone else, I wouldn’t be surprised if the perp targeted BT because someone close to them, like a friend or family member, was denied coverage. But I do wonder if its more personal. What if the perp himself was denied? Maybe he has a condition that UHC refused to cover, leaving him unable to afford treatment. If that condition is or will become terminal, he might feel like he has nothing to lose. In his mind, whether he gets caught or not doesn’t matter—he’s already living under a death sentence.

I also wonder if he’s trying to make a statement about the flaws in our healthcare system. If he gets caught and convicted, he’ll go to prison, where he’ll have access to healthcare. Ironically, as a convicted murderer, he would receive guaranteed care, possibly (in his mind) even better care than the average person who works hard, pays thousands of dollars for insurance, and still gets denied.

 

[krikken]

In my opinion, DNA is their only bet. I don't think AI would be admissible in court. What would also play a role would be if the girl at the hostel is asked to identify him from a lineup.

Such a shooter might be frustrated at how fast the case disappears from the media. Even if he isn't a narcissist, there's got to be a crash that follows a period of intense activity and his "accomplishment" as the public moves on to other things. Maybe it's a calculated strategy for the authorities to release so little (a belated mention of the play money but not much follow-up) in hopes of getting him to break silence and do more "taunting" or even a further threat.

Unfortunately I am a Websleuths newbie (who even managed to fall afoul of the rules against snark yesterday - sorry) so I can't say whether this is a typical case as far as availability of information and dots to connect, but it seems frustrating. Because of the corporate target, seems to be especially tightly locked down on that side, am I right? The phone call and whether for example anyone was expecting the CEO at the Hilton at that hour and how the timing worked vis-a-vis shooter a few blocks away would be crucial to know as well, but I expect the sit-down longform interview with BT's assistant about his typical routine is not going to be forthcoming, LOL.

 

[BrianJohnson]

I keep wondering about his motive(s).

Like everyone else, I wouldn’t be surprised if the perp targeted BT because someone close to them, like a friend or family member, was denied coverage. But I do wonder if its more personal. What if the perp himself was denied? Maybe he has a condition that UHC refused to cover, leaving him unable to afford treatment. If that condition is or will become terminal, he might feel like he has nothing to lose. In his mind, whether he gets caught or not doesn’t matter—he’s already living under a death sentence.

I also wonder if he’s trying to make a statement about the flaws in our healthcare system. If he gets caught and convicted, he’ll go to prison, where he’ll have access to healthcare. Ironically, as a convicted murderer, he would receive guaranteed care, possibly (in his mind) even better care than the average person who works hard, pays thousands of dollars for insurance, and still gets denied.

Surely if he himself is being refused treatment he would just wait around to be arrested like Mark Chapman did when he shot John Lennon, then he would go to jail and get his treatment

 

[BrianJohnson]

I do wonder whether BT assassin was hired by a politician or other shadowy groups who are lobbying for a cashless society. Take out one of America’s most senior business executives, pay cash for everything, more people keen for a cashless society.

The killer showed that someone can be killed with no trace left, huge numbers of people, even very high up want a cashless society where everything is paid for and leaves a digital trail, might explain the Monopoly money too

 

[Tortoise]

If you compare the backpack in the two photos, the one on the bike looks much more boxy with the contents, top and bottom. Yet he may have even be carrying an ebike battery with him during the shooting, so if that is the case, it should be fuller before not after.

I'm wondering if he bought two identical backpacks, one clean one (no DNA) to leave in the park to be found, and the other dumped in a dumpster or trash cart which police wouldn't be looking for.

Did he change coats too in the bike photo? Is it a longer coat? His arm looks well padded to me. The taxi photo coat looks like a different coat to the one in the shooting.

New photos show masked suspect gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO and fleeing on bike

 

[Fromeaster]

I think he prepared well and figured out where he could hide, maybe even another country. I don't think it will be easy to find him even knowing his name.

 

[Marantz4250b]

They may have a policy against it, but guns are likely banned as well. Didn't stop him.

My understanding is that possessing a handgun in NYC without a permit (which you never get) has been illegal since something like 1912.

 

[annpats]

I was wondering if he took his sheets & towels away with him …. Sheets would be dna goldmine …

The hostel would have washed them before the police even knew where he was staying.....

 

[Marantz4250b]

i don't think they know much of anything
they're gonna have to rely on AI facial recognition technology and DNA familial analysis to solve this one

We don't know what other evidence they may have or will come across during the investigation.

Someone may know who he is and give him up?

He might walk in to confess a police station and confess.

 

[Marantz4250b]

True, but he may not have actually had the weapon until the morning of the murder.

How would he have acquired it at such short notice?