NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[Charlot123]

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

Oh, 100%. And the smartest minds’ undoings would often be stupid affairs. Sometimes the revelations are way more shocking than even this. And we don’t even know why the victim was out so early; he was not jogging, after all. This being said, there are affairs and affairs. There are women who make a lot of drama and destroy own lives and those of their “benefactors”, but then, there are others who use these relationships to quietly build own careers while having pretty good families. And anyhow, we know nothing of sorts here.

However, however…one of the easiest explanations for Brian Thompson to be outside could be the need to make a private call, bypassing a hotel network, and maybe using a second cellphone. This would be a good reason to get outside.

 

[shetalksinstereo]

My husband (briefly) mentioned that it could even be someone who was passed over for that job. Being 50 years old is really young to be a CEO. Looks like he has been the CEO since 2021. So, he was 47 years old when promoted!

JMO.

I'm leaning toward disgruntled employee, not necessarily a C-Suite level one.

 

[CrimeTheorist]

Does anyone else think it's a little odd that he drops things that could lead back to him after what must have been a very well planned shooting? Is it possible he bought things before the murder but dropped identical items that he knew already had someone else's DNA on them?

 

[Warwick1991]

IMO it's either related to his divorce, or an angry individual who was affected by a denial of benefits.

 

[Vaderman]

There is something that just doesn’t work about these scenarios so many are spinning regarding a targeted hit. This gunman came very, very close to missing his opportunity if Thompson was indeed his target, because he was buying two power bars and a water bottle. He shot Thompson five minutes after he arrived at the Hilton. He came very, very close to missing his chance entirely!

If he had prior knowledge or an accomplice, I don't think he was close to accomplishing his goal, IMO.

 

[Deleted member 349831]

Y

Per CNN, they found an earlier video of the shooter around 5:15 am on the west side of Manhattan carrying something…possibly an e-bike battery that he was charging.

Yes I was just reading about that.

Police have video of the suspect early in the morning, prior to the shooting, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side carrying what appears to be a battery for an electric bike, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.

Investigators believe that the suspect may have taken a subway from the Upper West Side to Midtown. They are also looking into whether he had an electric bike pre-positioned in that area.

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

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

Is there such thing as a reversible backpack I wonder.

There is!! lots of companies make them. I have this one. Le Réversible Backpack, Beige Dark Brown, Gold Colour

 

[x_files]

I have a feeling that whoever did this WANTS to be caught.

or no longer cares. Is resigned to their fate. Someone ill, and was denied coverage or watched a loved die?
Maybe, he had nothing left to live for? Nothing left to lose?

 

[bestill]

IMO it's either related to his divorce, or an angry individual who was affected by a denial of benefits.

Whose divorce??

 

[x_files]

I don't think he panicked at all. I think he was simply not worried because they are not going to find his fingerprints on file.

He seemed disturbingly calm to me from the video.

 

[bestill]

Y

Yes I think as just reading about that.

Police have video of the suspect early in the morning, prior to the shooting, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side carrying what appears to be a battery for an electric bike, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.

Investigators believe that the suspect may have taken a subway from the Upper West Side to Midtown. They are also looking into whether he had an electric bike pre-positioned in that area.

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

So he had the ebike placed somewhere. So well planned, imo.

 

[x_files]

If this was an amateur loner, they will catch him soon enough. If he is not caught soon, we can likely rule out that possibility. But yes, for now, this is a possibility.

Unless he already boarded a plane and is long gone.

 

[armchairagatha]

Unless he already boarded a plane and is long gone.

Amateur loners don’t fly into NYC to commit a crime. They usually live somewhere in the vicinity.

 

[bestill]

Unless he already boarded a plane and is long gone.

I'm starting to lean towards this. He's not concerned about being caught on camera because he's unknown.

 

[armchairagatha]

I'm starting to lean towards this. He's not concerned about being caught on camera because he's unknown.

He is not unknown if he lives anywhere in the US. This is national news now so unless he left the country to some obscure place, someone will recognize him and come forward.

 

[Deleted member 341776]

UnitedHealth has been one of the companies in upstate NY that has dropped coverage for people in the capital district within the past year. It's effectively a healthcare desert in that region. I can't help but feel it may be connected, it's not particularly difficult to get from Albany to NYC.

Local Hospitals Drop Humana and United Health-Leaving Customers at a Loss

Patients in the capital region feel like they are caught in the middle of negotiations between hospitals and insurance companies.Recently two hospital systems h

cbs6albany.com

 

[Warwick1991]

Whose divorce??

Earlier post on this thread by @MassGuy, quoting John Miller of CNN... Post #486 on this thread, "CEO coming out of divorce." If it is correct and I understood it correctly... I haven't seen anything else on this since.

 

[Cryptic]

That suppressor wouldn’t be all that hard to obtain. It could have even been homemade, or not designed for his weapon (explaining the jams).

He could probably easily communicate with someone secretly on any gun forum, and have one mailed to him.

If he is from NY, NJ, CT etc. .....

I am thinking he may well of needed personal contacts- or if part of an extremist group, the suppressor was provided to him by another group member living in red state, or who had personal contacts.

Though open solicitation on internet forums may result in a few willing senders, my bet is that the more common reaction would be:

- High noon and time to surf the gun forums.
- Dude from NY wants a suppressor sent to him- now?
- Wow, ATF coming by my house- soon. Not fun at all.

 

[whitelilac]

Amateur loners don’t fly into NYC to commit a crime. They usually live somewhere in the vicinity.

I don't think he's an amateur.
I also don't think he's a rabid injustice collector.
Detectives has stated this guy is an experienced marksman, with training.
From the video he appears purposeful and cool as a cucumber, even with the jamming of his weapon. And before fleeing he checks the victim, and has no regard to witnesses and cameras.

 

[nightowl1975]

Maybe another one. The victim's wife issued a statement (unless the wedding was recent, but they also have two teenagers and I got the impression that she is their mother).

The way her statement was worded immediately made me think they were either divorcing or in a very odd/off marriage. I don’t think we can discount the idea this may be much closer to home than anything to do with his job/position. It certainly needs to be ruled out. IMO.