NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[ch_13]

There may have been vested interests that didn’t want him to be probed depending on what else might come out. Seems like a killing where big money was involved, thus requiring a professional hit away from his home turf. Not a disgruntled patient or family turned away by UHC. No, this was more personal to Thompson even if it involved his business dealings. JMO.

Thompson wasn't personally accused of any wrongdoing, this is an antitrust probe of a corporation. It will continue on no matter who's the CEO.

And this stuff is just par for the course in corporate America. Justice Department investigations happen all the time. Off the top of my head, Google, Microsoft, Apple, JetBlue, X, LiveNation, RealPage are all companies that have either current or recent antitrust actions by the Justice Department.

And even if violations are found, it's a long, involved process to implement any changes, complete with federal court cases, etc. And there's a good likelihood that the Trump Administration will discontinue the investigation anyways.

So, I really doubt this has anything to do with the CEO's death.

 

[whitelilac]

I agree because he has to know about the security cameras. These days you just assume all stores have them.
But, he seems very confident in his mission and seems to be making direct eye contact with whomever is waiting on him too. He's not nervous about the deed ahead or being identified, imo.

And he's probably long gone out of the city. Took the subway to be anonymous, and long gone.

 

[OtisC]

These are additional images of the suspect sought in connection to this morning's homicide. If you have any information about this incident, the suspect, or his location please contact @NYPDTips at 1(800)577-TIPS.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864396142819078324

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My understanding is this was taken at a Starbucks in the area.

I see no gloves.

Will his identity be discovered via a coffee cup in the trash?

 

[Cryptic]

Such clear pictures! Now I am convinced that this was a hit ordered by someone in his inner circle (personal or business).

With that possiblity in mind....

@Inthedetails @schooling and.... "at" anybody else,

The meeting appeared to be centered on seeking loans- I imagine from Wall Street investment banks, investment fund managers etc.

How public would these types of meetings generally be? Even with in the company, would it be common to announce that the CEO, CFO and other big wigs will be attending a meeting in NYC at hotel "H" to procure funding etc?

In short, do corperations usually take a "Need to know" approach, or a more transparent approach to keep employees better informed? How close to the CEO would one need to be to have intimate details of the meeting and his schedule?

 

[StarryStarryNight]

From the first pictures released I was struck by the stance of the shooter and how slight in build they were. The stance seemed very feminine to me. Maybe a woman?
I watched the video of the shooting and noted how focused and determined the shooter was. They were not looking around to see if anybody was coming at them as they shot. They were certainly not hurrying while shooting or even while getting away. Their walk reminded me of the video of the Nashville school shooter who was a woman. Again, maybe a woman?
The super clear pictures show the shooter as slight in build with well groomed hands though the facial features seem more masculine.
Those are just my observations. Statistics say it’s a guy, and it probably is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was not.

 

[Elley Mae]

And he's probably long gone out of the city. Took the subway to be anonymous, and long gone.

Almost 9 hours ago.

 

[MassGuy]

My understanding is this was taken at a Starbucks in the area.

I see no gloves.

Will his identity be discovered via a coffee cup in the trash?

How did he pay?

It would be hilarious if he paid with a card.

 

[Inthedetails]

And he's probably long gone out of the city. Took the subway to be anonymous, and long gone.

I hope he took the subway. There are cameras at the turnstiles so NYPD could track where he got on and off.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

How did he pay?

It would be hilarious if he screws that up too.

Going to Starbucks before committing murder seems like a dumb move. That's a good sign.

jmo

 

[Arkay]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>
Another native New Yorker here…I wouldn’t call this area in midtown a “high-crime area.”

I’m somewhat surprised that the shooter would kill just when dawn was breaking, but I agree with everyone and LE of course that this was a targeted hit. The shooter being there just five minutes before certainly suggests that he was familiar with the victim's schedule.

If the killer is a shareholder then he would’ve been informed about the Investor Meeting; time and place and who would be present.

On the outside looking in, it certainly seems like the tragically common hit on the top guy of a company that may have refused lifesaving healthcare to the assassin’s loved one.

Or the also tragically common revenge of a disgruntled employee.

If it’s a customer whose claim was denied, yes of course the CEO isn’t the guy who stamped “no.”
It’s possible the killer had contacted everyone up the chain all the way to the CEO, though, and was repeatedly denied. In that case it’s rather conventional to blame the CEO who could’ve assented to a medical procedure being covered.

All of course is just speculation. As many have said, it could be personal.

Those close-up pix are very clear. I even think I can discern the ethnicity just by the top of the face.

I wonder if any of the drivers or passengers of the several approaching cars, just when the shots were fired, were able to see more.

Horrible thing to have happened. The Rock Center Christmas tree lighting is still going to take place tonight, and I of course hate that people assume NYC is wall-to-wall crime.

Prayers for his family.

JMO

 

[whitelilac]

I hope he took the subway. There are cameras at the turnstiles so NYPD could track where he got on and off.

jmo

Different clothing? Looked like a business person or a homeless guy?

 

[Sunshynn]

Investor Conference

Explore UnitedHealth Group's 2024 Investor Conference book for information on our differentiated growth strategy and commitment to our mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone.

www.unitedhealthgroup.com

This was just a quick Google search. I'm assuming its for today's scheduled conference.

 

[Jcm2293]

Apologies if this was already stated. My guess is the shooter was using sub-sonic rounds in addition to the suppressor. Plenty lethal and actually quiet (like how silenced guns are in movies). Importantly, these rounds often don’t generate enough negative pressure to clear the chamber. Shooter did not seem surprised by the jam, which an experienced shooter would not be shooting sub sonic rounds.

Might make it easier to trace, though if true pro likely scrubbed identifying markings (which can also make guns more likely to jam)

 

[sunflowermomma]

The video is really interesting. I think it's a male, but a short/slight younger male, but the way they run is kind of odd. Is there video of the suspect on the bike or just photos? They look professional and confident in what they're doing. These are not compliments to be clear.

Hope this does not sound insensitive and of course JMO MOO, but if someone was disgruntled enough over a denied claim or other insurance-related issue, would they have the funds to hire a hit?

 

[Deleted member 349831]

This is the first time I seen a description of the suspect that includes an estimated height. Apologies if it has already been posted.

The gunman is described as 6'1" with a tall, thin build, wearing a black jacket, black hat, black ski mask, and black backpack.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown; writing discovered on shell casing

The words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were discovered by detectives on the shell casings found at the scene, police sources told ABC News late Wednesday evening.

abc7ny.com

 

[Curiousobserver]

These are additional images of the suspect sought in connection to this morning's homicide. If you have any information about this incident, the suspect, or his location please contact @NYPDTips at 1(800)577-TIPS.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864396142819078324

View attachment 549092View attachment 549093View attachment 549094

hopefully he's a regular and used his card

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

Oooof very young man :-(
Excuse my ignorance, UnitedHealthcare? I have never heard of this company here in the UK, is this a huge company, any controversies surrounding this, significant achievements and/or capital? Trying to figure out why this poor man was targeted, horrible thing to do. Edited: to add a letter s after a noun.

 

[sunflowermomma]

This is the first time I seen a description of the suspect that includes the height. Apologies if it has already been posted.

The gunman is described as 6'1" with a tall, thin build, wearing a black jacket, black hat, black ski mask, and black backpack.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown; writing discovered on shell casing

The words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were discovered by detectives on the shell casings found at the scene, police sources told ABC News late Wednesday evening.

abc7ny.com

6'1" ! the angle of the videos obscures that significantly. It must be a guy.

 

[Cryptic]

[URLT unfurl="true"]Investor Conference

Wow, now, thats a direct answer!

In my mind, I thought the answer would be more in tune with: "Usually, its need to know." But for this meeting, anybody even casually researching / stalking the company could easily get enough information to plan the murder.

 

[Furore]

I live in the UK so less familiar with guns here. The guy seems to be a good marksman and hit a moving target multiple times, in an ambush. He also did manage to leave the scene, undetected, even if that’s temporary.

However I can’t imagine a professional wanting to do this on camera in a busy part of town. I also just do not think a professional would hit up a nearby Starbucks shortly before!! So, not a paid assassin as such. But disgruntled customer sure. They were trying to make a clear point.

Poor family, to have this happen is devastating, let alone at this time of year.