NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[Notthisshipsister]

NYT just posted video of the suspect walking down the street, appearing to use the phone, before the killing. I feel like they'll catch this guy rather quickly with tech.

Update from Alex Pena and Aric Toler

www.nytimes.com

"Surveillance footage obtained by The New York Times from near the scene of the shooting shows the suspect arriving in the area at least 10 minutes beforehand. Around 6:30 a.m., the man appears to be making a phone call as he walks down the sidewalk about 175 feet away from where Thompson was shot. A Times analysis of the footage found that the man’s clothing and backpack match those worn by the gunman in footage and photographs released by the police."

It doesn't surprise me at all that the shooter was on the phone. When I read the details of this apparently targeted hit, it seemed that the shooter knew just when he should be on the scene. I thought immediately that perhaps the shooter was in the area and had gotten a phone call from someone telling him BT's location (or that BT had left wherever it was that had him out so early in the morning and the time was "right"). The Starbucks visit was perhaps the shooter just wasting some time waiting for a call that BT was on the move.
MOO

 

[Tippy Lynn]

I did a search and didn’t see a divorce filed.

Case Search - Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)

 

[Boodles]

if we are playing the odds it’s way more likely this was a personal issue than a revenge killing by or on behalf of a random disgruntled UHC policyholder or investor. I find the hacking thing really interesting but the idea that an international cyber gang did it seems even more remote.

So now I’m coming back to his personal life. In hindsight the wife’s NBC interview was weird. First of all, how was she composed enough to even do it so soon after the murder? Second, if you watched it, didn’t it seem strange that she jumped right to a possible explanation (previous threats based on insurance coverage denial)? Now we find out there may be a divorce situation happening behind the scenes? Very much worth looking into. MOO.

Was there an actual interview? I only saw that she issued a statement which was recorded.

 

[Snoopster]

So did that killer follow BT to the Hilton? Was BT staying elsewhere?
BT was apparently shot outside a side entrance of the Hilton, not the front entrance. It's possible that is either the easiest 'drop-off point' for a car or is the closest entrance to the conference area of the hotel. It's likely that UnitedHealthGroup has used this same hotel before for 'investor days'.

Investor days are meeting with Wall Street brokerage and research firms, where the brokerage analysts get to ask questions and say that they had access to the senior executives. These meetings are well-planned by the senior management team, with likely scripts and powerpoint presentations about how well things are going at the company. Senior management obviously wants to earn a 'buy' rating by the brokerage firms.

The average person on the street is oblivious of these meetings and they don't get an invitation. However, public companies (like UHG) often post investor presentations on their website after these meetings occur. A member of the public could figure out that the senior executive team goes to NYC at certain times each quarter. But I wonder how they know where the meeting would be held.


Not much here (and someone might have already posted this) but here is what the company has posted regarding this situation:
UnitedHealth Group Statement on Today’s Events

 

[Snoopster]

If someone is struggling to pay health bills, you probably aren’t prioritizing a payment to a hitman.

I agree. That's why I'd assume, in this case, that it was a relative of someone who was 'hurt' by the healthcare system.

Another possibility is that it wasn't someone struggling to pay their bills. I know someone who had a bad experience with a health insurer. They weren't struggling to pay the bills (yet) but they were very angry due to the hit to their ego and self-worth.

Of course it might not be related to the nature of the business, like most cases, but I'd say that the business connection should be fairly high up on the list of possible motives here.

 

[MassGuy]

CNN:

Law enforcement confident that they’ll get this guy, as they have a lot of evidence to work with.

It will take time to get there (video, forensics, cell phone analysis).

 

[Vaderman]

CNN:

Law enforcement confident that they’ll get this guy, as they have a lot of evidence to work with.

It will take time to get there (video, forensics, cell phone analysis).

Their confidence now makes me think this is going to become cold case :facepalm"

 

[Deleted member 341776]

I wonder what he was doing in the Upper West Side? How did LE learn he had been there earlier in the day? Facial recognition coupled with surveillance footage? A witness?

If he took the train into Manhattan (either Amtrak, LIRR, Metro North, or PATH) he wouldn’t have gotten off near the UWS — either Penn Station at W 34th St for Amtrak, Grand Central at E 42nd St for the LIRR to/from Long Island, E 125th St for Metro North, or lower Manhattan below 23rd St for the PATH to/from New Jersey. The UWS isn’t along any direct route from any of these stations to the Hilton. The UWS might be a good place to park a vehicle after driving over the GW Bridge from NJ, though (he could have biked through the park back to his car after the murder, although it sounds like LE was looking around a Citi Bike station on the Upper East Side).

He could have gotten off at any of those locations and then scouted his way upward through Central Park to the UWS. I think it's likely that if he wasn't from NYC that he was staying somewhere in the UWS, possibly with a friend/accomplice.

 

[bestill]

The reported divorce brings a totally new angle on this, imo. I totally missed this.

Is there a big life insurance policy involved? Is there another woman and angry spouse involved?

 

[MassGuy]

John Miller:

5:15 Upper West Side video shows suspect carrying a battery for an e-bike. He may live in that area or just started in that area.

Trying to get into cell phone. Have to get past passcode. Even if it’s a burner it will be big. Could also be his phone that he dropped accidentally.

Shell casings can be run through system to see if they showed up at any other crime scene.

Found complete bullets that could have DNA or partial print. Will have to wait for lab results, so video canvas is what they can do right now.

Seemed to be pretty skilled. Shooter stance. Two hand grip. Clears jams really quickly. Suggests someone comfortable and experienced with firearms. Could be law enforcement, military; someone not new to this.

 

[JoeFromLB]

I hate to post this theory, and it's pure speculation, but there are stories online from reputable news sources that he and other company executives were possibly involved in insider trading and fraud and may already be subjects of a DOJ investigation.
I just wonder (again just a theory) that this hit was intended to stop Mr. Thompson from telling the feds what he knew.

 

[Kittybunny]

if we are playing the odds it’s way more likely this was a personal issue than a revenge killing by or on behalf of a random disgruntled UHC policyholder or investor. I find the hacking thing really interesting but the idea that an international cyber gang did it seems even more remote.

So now I’m coming back to his personal life. In hindsight the wife’s NBC interview was weird. First of all, how was she composed enough to even do it so soon after the murder? Second, if you watched it, didn’t it seem strange that she jumped right to a possible explanation (previous threats based on insurance coverage denial)? Now we find out there may be a divorce situation happening behind the scenes? Very much worth looking into. MOO.

Right there with you. I thought her statement was very composed, overly so. Granted if they had recently divorced there may be hard feelings there. I’m always overly suspicious when someone mentions threats or danger very quickly.

But almost everything is possible at this stage. Personally I’m ruling out any foreign actors since this isn’t a multinational company, despite the cyber threats. Those types of criminals prefer the shadows, they want money and anonymity, not the spotlight of such a high profile murder.

 

[MassGuy]

Their confidence now makes me think this is going to become cold case :facepalm"

I would bet the farm on this case not only being solved, but being solved quickly.

An insane amount of video footage.

A dropped cell phone that may contain DNA, or evidence that readily identifies the shooter.

Unspent rounds that may contain DNA or partial prints.

A water bottle that he recently purchased and almost certainly drank from.

 

[bestill]

Right there with you. I thought her interview and statement were very composed, overly so. Granted if they had recently divorced there may be hard feelings there.

But almost everything is possible at this stage. Personally I’m ruling out any foreign actors since this isn’t a multinational company, despite the cyber threats. Those types of criminals prefer the shadows, they want money and anonymity, not the spotlight of such a high profile murder.

If there is a divorce this explains her being able to speak to the media. I wondered about that. IMO

 

[Bridger]

Can someone provide a link to a story about an impending or recent divorce? I have searched for the story and can find nothing. All major news sources mention a "wife"--not an ex-wife or estranged wife.

 

[Snoopster]

He could have gotten off at any of those locations and then scouted his way upward through Central Park to the UWS. I think it's likely that if he wasn't from NYC that he was staying somewhere in the UWS, possibly with a friend/accomplice.

So, a couple of questions...

1) The bike. I am not familiar with the bike rentals in NYC, but where I have used them in other cities they required a credit card. And I believe the rental companies shuttle the bikes around to ensure adequate supply at the various locations. Therefore they keep track of them.

2) How did he know that BT would be going in the side door of the Hilton? Surely he didn't follow him on a bike?

 

[IzzyBlanche]

Watching the teevee and CNN was showing the pictures from Starbucks. Interesting that in the shot from the side, the tip of his nose was still visible from under a rather generous head covering.

It's possible that he has a very distinctive nose.

 

[ilovewings]

Yes, I never leave disappointed like some shows because they always solve it!

See No Evil never disappoints! What I love most is how the perps have no clue they are on CCTV- totally clueless!!!! and when they are caught I applaud!!!!

 

[Snoopster]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed>
I'm struggling with this motive. There are so, so many other motives that would pop up into my mind in this case before terrorism. Terrorism is based on creating, well, terror. Fear of a particular situation. But no one knows what to be afraid of here so it doesn't meet the goals of terrorism.

No group has spoken up to take responsibility and no group has spoken up to say 'hey, no wonder he was killed!'

This case strikes me as personal. Whether personally known to the victim or a personal vendetta against the victim or the company.
<modsnip>

 

[Kittybunny]

I would bet the farm on this case not only being solved, but being solved quickly.

An insane amount of video footage.

A dropped cell phone that may contain DNA, or evidence that readily identifies the shooter.

Unspent rounds that may contain DNA or partial prints.

A water bottle that he recently purchased and almost certainly drank from.

If this guy isn’t in CODIS, and in my opinion, he’s not, what are the options here for DNA matching - genetic genealogy? I presume law enforcement or military people don’t provide DNA, and if they do they couldn’t just run it through the entire database. Fingerprints are a different story, I guess?