NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[MassGuy]

Suspect fled on a Citi Bike that has GPS system, police say​

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
The person suspected of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled on a Citi Bike that had a GPS system, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said.

“We’re still tracking video. The last we see with him on that bike is in Central Park,” Kenny said. “There are GPS on those bikes. We’ll be working with the company.”

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/unitedhealthcare-brian-thompson-death-12-04-24/index.html

This is perfect because they’ll be able to recover surveillance footage from along that route. We’ve seen grainy footage thus far, but there has to be high quality images out there.

 

[acutename]

I actually kinda think the opposite.

Like you said, the getaway was flawed, but it does seem to be decently planned out - that plus the use of a silencer (which I believe decreases the “performance” of a gun in some ways?) suggests that getting away was as important as ensuring the target was dead.

I don’t know what this is, but I’m leaning away from it being a disgruntled patient/family member.

also when the gun jammed, he fixed it and kept shooting- that says to me some one who was not particularly nervous or emotional IMO

 

[TexLil]

"This is one of the most detailed assassinations I've ever seen."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864369544867045880

 

[dm799]

Very premature at this stage, but as others have opined this could well be blowback related to the company.

Actions have consequences.

 

[whitelilac]

This is perfect because they’ll be able to recover surveillance footage from along that route. We’ve seen grainy footage thus far, but there has to be high quality images out there.

This appears to be so well planned, you'd think the perpetrator would know about the GPS. Can one disable it on these bikes?

 

[Mrspratcher]

UnitedHealthcare CEO was facing a DoJ probe when he was executed


UnitedHealthcare CEO was facing a DoJ probe when he was executed

 

[Curiousobserver]

I am not seeing well planned at all- other than coming to the right place at the right time with a gun.

Mr. Thompson's schedule was available online as of this morning and the perp escaped on a GPS monitored e bike. He could have pulled that together last night.

I am reserving judgement on how thought out this was.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

What kind of a gun would that be? It looks big for a handgun but he does have a silencer attached.

I think the photo is extra confusing because the area I circled in red, which I believe is the base for the vertical thing above it, visually looks like part of the gun though it's clearly not. MOO

 

[sds71]

Exclusive | Chilling video shows gunman executing Brian Thompson at close range as UnitedHealthcare CEO stumbles away in NYC

In the video, the unidentified assailant — clad in a black hoodie, black pants, gloves and wearing a gray backpack — can be seen methodically firing what appears to be a single-action handgun at th…

nypost.com

 

[Elley Mae]

Different angle

Video

Exclusive | Chilling video shows gunman executing Brian Thompson at close range as UnitedHealthcare CEO stumbles away in NYC

In the video, the unidentified assailant — clad in a black hoodie, black pants, gloves and wearing a gray backpack — can be seen methodically firing what appears to be a single-action handgun at th…

nypost.com

 

[MassGuy]

The unblurred video of the murder is out there, although I won't post it here for obvious reasons. In it, you see Thompson walking down the sidewalk, wearing a bright blue suit jacket, and dark pants. The gunman comes into view behind him, appearing to first strike the victim's left leg (he limps to the right, in the direction of the building). He turns around and faces his attacker, where it appears he fires again before his gun jams. Gunman continues walking towards the victim, clearing his gun as he moves. He fires again, and walks across the street, breaking into a run.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I am not seeing well planned at all- other than coming to the right place at the right time with a gun.

Mr. Thompson's schedule was available online as of this morning and the perp escaped on a GPS monitored e bike. He could have pulled that together last night.

I am reserving judgement on how thought out this was.

I agree.
Definitely targeted. They seemed to have taken advantage of an opportunity in his schedule.
Doesn’t seem very well planned to me.

 

[Curiousobserver]

I agree.
Definitely targeted. They seemed to have taken advantage of an opportunity in his schedule.
Doesn’t seem very well planned to me.

So anybody who hasn't been to the city in a while, those ebike are lying everywhere and GPS in downtown barely works due to the buildings. They will have better luck in Central Park, but as some LE have said- all he would need to do is change is clothes in the bushes and walk away.

They way they are going to catch this guy is with his phone or his EZ pass/Plate Reader.

 

[Otterly]

Would have been easier to get him back home in Minnesota than in crowded Manhattan in the middle of an investor conference. NYC means the potential list of suspects expands which may be what the shooter (or whoever ordered the hit) was after. I would look closer to home/work for potential suspects. JMO.

IMO, the shooter wanted to send a message and there's no better place to do your crime in order to grab headlines than midtown manhattan. Sure doing the crime back in minnesota would have been a big deal because of the murder of a major corporation CEO, but doing it in the middle of NYC brings the crime to a higher level of notoriety.

 

[COMom]

Yes, very telling.

People are (right or wrong) angry about medical insurance horror stories but I'm not sure how someone would know the identity of the CEO - who isn't living in NY and UHC's main office also is not NY - and knew enough to know down to which door he was going to exit from and could identify him from the back.

And all the United executives were there. Why was Mr. Thompson the one who was singled out?
It will be interesting to see what we learn about the shooter's motive.
IMHO

 

[MassGuy]

IMO, the shooter wanted to send a message and there's no better place to do your crime in order to grab headlines than midtown manhattan. Sure doing the crime back in minnesota would have been a big deal because of the murder of a major corporation CEO, but doing it in the middle of NYC brings the crime to a higher level of notoriety.

It is very interesting. It took me seconds to find the victim’s address, and anyone targeting him could have easily done the same.

Personally, I’m leaning towards this being practical though. Perhaps this killer is from the general area.

 

[dub]

Another thought I had is, at least to me, the victim is a very normal/common looking fella.

Unless he was exceptionally tall or short I imagine either the shooter or someone in communication with the shooter was pretty familiar with him… maybe in his own neighborhood in Minnesota he’s 1 of 1 but I imagine there are a number of dudes in suits walking around midtown at any given time who look pretty similar to him.

But maybe it’s just me?

 

[MesquiteO21]

A couple of similar backpacks View attachment 549061View attachment 549062

it almost looks similar to a delivery backpack JMO

 

[Sunshynn]

And it's not wrong to be infuriated when your child is denied a life-saving treatment by their insurance company.
Moo

I wasn't talking about being right or wrong about being angry over a child or anyone being denied life savings treatment by a company who overrides medical doctors.

I was talking about being angry enough at the CEO to plan a public assassination when there are so many more cogs in the wheel to be angry at, as well.

 

[OtisC]

My apologies if this has been addressed.

The e-bike. Do you have to pay in order to use it? I would assume so but am not sure. Can you pay anonymously?

Also, I understand that the e-bike has GPS.

GPS not a huge deterrent since the e-bike was just a partial part of the escape plan. Curious about the payment options and tracking.

I believe this was targeted but no opinion on the motive of the attack nor if the shooter's motive was personal or professional (paid hit).