NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[Charlot123]

Looking at the various images of this guy, I’m leaning towards him being on the younger side. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in his mid 20s.

I do not believe this was a hired hit; I think it was someone who wanted to strike back at the health insurance business with some sort of ideological or personal motivation.

“Let us send them a message”. Isn’t it an act of domestic terror then? That would place the perpetrator in between an anarchist and a merely unhinged young man? Who is naive enough (replacing a CEO doesn’t change anything in the big scheme of things), but angry and unafraid to die for own principles? Mentally, such people are pretty organized. Is this the type? More angry than despondent?

 

[armchairagatha]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed - not victim friendly>
Occam’s razor points to someone who lost or had a lot to lose because of Thompson and therefore had to do away with him. Personal vendetta of sorts. Could be personal or business. I still think it was not a single disgruntled insurer who was turned down by UHC. No, someone wanted Thompson specifically out of the picture.

 

[jimg77]

Even without security it is somewhat unusual that his immediate staff, at least some of them, wouldn’t be around. I have never seen our CEO alone when traveling.

Exactly! The company I work for has a department for this and its named Executive Protection. Executives have a driver that also escorts the VIP around. This IMO is a failure of UnitedHealthcare and their security department. He or she shouldn't be out on the street alone without protection, especially the CEO!

 

[MassGuy]

What we know about Luigi Mangione, Ivy League grad charged in CEO's murder

Luigi Mangione has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

abcnews.go.com

Detectives do not think he is a professional either.

The working theory among detectives right now is that the shooting was carried out by someone who is not a professional killer because too many "mistakes" were made, sources said. Hitmen typically don't carry cell phones to their hits and the shots were fired from a distance that would be considered "too far" away from the victim, the sources said.

At this point, detectives are trying to determine whether Thompson was targeted because of some type of personal conflict or as a result of his work as an insurance executive, sources said. The killer apparently had some knowledge of Thompson's schedule on Wednesday and the fact that he would be arriving at the Hilton well before the company meeting was to begin, the sources said.

 

[Arkay]

Not saying this is what happened, but here’s how:
Nose was prosthetic and wearing contacts. Wanted cameras to see cleanshaven. Goes to park, pulls of nose and attaches beard. Changes clothes. Has another bag in backpack, puts old backpack and clothes in new backpack. Waits out of line of site of cameras until Central Park is crowded—which is frequent in December. Walks out, boards subway.

While anything is possible, I feel that this scenario is unlikely.

Sunrise in NYC was at 7:04 AM.

Cameras would catch him entering Central Park, dressed as you say.

Where is it that he pulls off a fake nose, attaches a beard, and changes clothes? And switches backpacks? There is always someone in Central Park, as well as security. Someone could spot him doing that in public.

He would have to go into a restroom to do this switch, and NYPD would notice on camera that a man of the same height dressed in the assassin’s clothing walked into a restroom but someone “else” walked out.

NYPD is really a very good police force, having seen everything and having strong institutional knowledge. Someone in LE will be able to identify him as the culprit just by his walk.
Then the subway system itself is practically one enormous camera.

IMO

 

[Vaderman]

For some reason, I think the backpack could be the thing that leads to his capture. I carry a backpack almost everywhere I go and I'm pretty sure I'd be easily identified by friends, family, or coworkers if they saw an image of me covered up but with the bag.

 

[Inthedetails]

When I saw the video, I had the same exact thought. Especially they were holding a cup of coffee. My thought was an unwitting accomplice--didn't realize the guy was going to start shooting.

And the surveillance video of the shooter walking down the sidewalk shows a guy walking near the shooter, while the shooter is on the phone. I wonder if it's the same "second guy."

jmo

 

[Charlot123]

Completely guess but gone to ground in nyc is my guess—not a bad place to hide in plane sight—especially if disguise was used before or after. Exit entry from Manhattan will be watched

People should take care of themselves and sit at home. He is probably not motivated to kill average people, but he can very easily kill if needed.

 

[Inthedetails]

For some reason, I think the backpack could be the thing that leads to his capture. I carry a backpack almost everywhere I go and I'm pretty sure I'd be easily identified by friends, family, or coworkers if they saw an image of me covered up but with the bag.

Unless you bought a new backpack and then ditched it.

jmo

 

[Charlot123]

Agree. I was thinking late 20s on the very outside. And I also agree; this was sending a message.

I feel like we've fallen into another John Grisham novel here. An update of Rainmaker?

moo

I am thinking of Gavrilo Princip-like mentality.

 

[Inthedetails]

People should take care of themselves and sit at home. He is probably not motivated to kill average people, but he can very easily kill if needed.

Trust me, the city is not sitting at home because of this.

jmo

 

[Curious_in_NC]

<modsnip> Occam’s razor points to someone who lost or had a lot to lose because of Thompson and therefore had to do away with him. Personal vendetta of sorts. Could be personal or business. I still think it was not a single disgruntled insurer who was turned down by UHC. No, someone wanted Thompson specifically out of the picture.

I tend to agree the gunman was probably not a (or the) disgruntled insurer. Too young, even at the higher end of the suggested range. If he was in his 50s and facing bankruptcy/terminal illness, that would seem more likely to fit that scenario.

 

[Elley Mae]

I tend to agree the gunman was probably not a (or the) disgruntled insurer. Too young, even at the higher end of the suggested range. If he was in his 50s and facing bankruptcy/terminal illness, that would seem more likely to fit that scenario.

The son of a disgruntled insurer possibly?

 

[Arkay]

I tend to agree the gunman was probably not a (or the) disgruntled insurer. Too young, even at the higher end of the suggested range. If he was in his 50s and facing bankruptcy/terminal illness, that would seem more likely to fit that scenario.

It could be a young person’s parent or grandparent, or a sibling, if this is really about medical coverage denied to a customer.

Just guessing because I also think he appears to be in his 20s.

Or perhaps he had a child who wasn’t covered…. I was a mother at 24.

ETA: @Elley Mae I just saw your post above…I agree.

 

[acehard]

For some reason, I think the backpack could be the thing that leads to his capture. I carry a backpack almost everywhere I go and I'm pretty sure I'd be easily identified by friends, family, or coworkers if they saw an image of me covered up but with the bag.

Looks like a white Peak Design Everyday 20L. It opens from the sides for quick access as it's made for cameras. IMO

 

[Charlot123]

The son of a disgruntled insurer possibly?

Probably a person with a list of potential targets. JMO.

 

[Inthedetails]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed>
The executive who was murdered on the sidewalk in San Francisco was killed by the brother of a woman the executive was involved with.

I'm NOT saying that is what happened here, but, rather, that we don't know much of anything yet. The motive might stem from a situation we haven't even considered yet.

jmo

 

[ElizaKate]

Looks like a white Peak Design Everyday 20L. It opens from the sides for quick access as it's made for cameras. IMO

Certainly does look very similar. Even down to how square it sits on the back.

If it is. That's an expensive backpack!

 

[dub]

Looks like a white Peak Design Everyday 20L. It opens from the sides for quick access as it's made for cameras. IMO

It looks a lot bigger than 20L to me, especially if the guy is 6’1-ish.

I have a very similar style backpack to the shooter’s that’s 30L and that one looks at least as big as mine.

Eta: it does look like Peak Design makes a 30L version of the same backpack though!

 

[acehard]

Certainly does look very similar. Even down to how square it sits on the back.

If it is. That's an expensive backpack!

Looks like he was also using a silencer. He came equipped. MOO