NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown.

[acutename]

Is there such thing as a reversible backpack I wonder.

what did he do with the weapon?

 

[MassGuy]

even though i believe the chances of this being related to the ransomware attack are low I can’t shake that whoever did this almost certainty had access to very sensitive information about the victim’s location and schedule. It is at least possible the bad actors still have access to UHC systems, which might explain the insider knowledge leveraged by the shooter. UHC still hasn’t called the incident closed.

I think this information would be more specific than anything that could be gleaned from something like that. Thompson was arriving well before he needed to, and this guy arrived just minutes before that time.

He could have gotten lucky, or he somehow knew his specific movements. I think if anything, he was operating off of real time intelligence (someone told him he was on his way).

 

[acutename]

What’s in his hands?

a card... if he is smart some one else's gift card... I dunno

 

[clearskies1]

Upper tier of the NYPD has been in turmoil under Mayor Adams. We are now on the fourth NYPD Commissioner in 3 years. Wonder how much this affects ongoing operations and investigations.

 

[Inthedetails]

I think this information would be more specific than anything that could be gleaned from something like that. Thompson was arriving well before he needed to, and this guy arrived just minutes before that time.

He could have gotten lucky, or he somehow knew his specific movements. I think if anything, he was operating off of real time intelligence (someone told him he was on his way).

I totally agree.

Even so, I'd like to know if this guy had been nearby since BT arrived on Monday. Had the shooter been tailing BT, or was someone else tailing BT before this morning?

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Upper tier of the NYPD has been in turmoil under Mayor Adams. We are now on the fourth NYPD Commissioner in 3 years. Wonder how much this affects ongoing operations and investigations.

This is just a hunch, but with a high-profile mystery like this, I think LEO and detectives are EAGER to work on it. I don't worry about motivation in this investigation. My opinion.

jmo

 

[MassGuy]

I totally agree.

Even so, I'd like to know if this guy had been nearby since BT arrived on Monday. Had the shooter been tailing BT, or was someone else tailing BT before this morning?

jmo

Yeah, I imagine they’ll go at least as far back as Thompson’s arrival on Monday. There’s a good chance this guy had scouted out the area in advance (almost a guarantee based on the entry and exit plan).

Perhaps he wasn’t wearing a disguise then.

 

[Deleted member 110281]

Agree. She probably freaked out

I think this information would be more specific than anything that could be gleaned from something like that. Thompson was arriving well before he needed to, and this guy arrived just minutes before that time.

He could have gotten lucky, or he somehow knew his specific movements. I think if anything, he was operating off of real time intelligence (someone told him he was on his way).

Agreed. Brian came early - to get the lay of the land and visualize the stage. Maybe to even do a Mic check. If nothing else to ensure he was where he needed to be early so things would run smoothly and support the team running the event. The planning team would have given him an expected arrival time.

 

[clearskies1]

This is just a hunch, but with a high-profile mystery like this, I think LEO and detectives are EAGER to work on it. I don't worry about motivation in this investigation. My opinion.

jmo

Agree, but organization and communication could be a problem.

 

[acutename]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/us/brian-thompson-united-healthcare-death/index.html

<snipped & BBM>
The leadership team at UnitedHealth Group is supported by an in-house security team, including at the New York conference, a source familiar with the company's security said. Thompson's security detail was not with him when the early morning shooting occurred.

[...]

Officials said the assailant stepped from behind a car onto the sidewalk, ignored other people and shot the victim from behind.

[...]

Thompson, who was visiting from Minnesota, was shot with a weapon that appeared to be outfitted with a silencer, according to a law enforcement official.

OK, so where was his security team? wonder if the shooter knew that he would preferentially use a side door.

 

[whitelilac]

You don't suppose the watcher/accomplice is an insider.
?

 

[flowershop]

How do you leave a message on a bullet casing?

On the show Peaky Blinders, the hitmen will etch the name of their victims onto the bullets. That show is said to be based on actual English street gangs at the turn of the last century.

Maybe the casing has the victim's name etched on it. Or a full sentence!

 

[Snoopster]

I think this information would be more specific than anything that could be gleaned from something like that. Thompson was arriving well before he needed to, and this guy arrived just minutes before that time.

He could have gotten lucky, or he somehow knew his specific movements. I think if anything, he was operating off of real time intelligence (someone told him he was on his way).

He wasn't necessarily arriving well before he needed to. Often CEO's show up shortly before an event and get their final prep. Reminders of what to say and what not to say. It's possible that he had a meeting with PR staff at 8 am. So his arrival time wouldn't have been super early. These senior execs are super busy and they rely on their staff to give them updates and reminders of key talking points.

But the main point remains. How did the perp know that BT would show up at that entrance. Clearly he didn't know the exact time, as he hung out in the area well before the shooting. But he easily recognized his target. So who was the shooter?

 

[lydiafaithfull]

if he's never been printed, prints would not ID him

This was my thought. The only thing that made this appear amateurish was the leg hit after taking a direct shot at his center torso. This feels reminiscent of the Boston Marathon manhunt. He’ll be caught.

 

[fridaybaker]

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but I don’t understand how they know that the bicycle was equipped with GPS if they don’t have it in their possession??

 

[Deleted member 110281]

Also,from what I can tell, Brian got into town on Monday? A little early for this event? Why?

Sounds like he was entering a side door? Does this sound correct? How would then suspect know this? If lying in wait?

All honest questions- you probably know more than me.

Also: if I was hosting an event that started at 9 - I would have told Brian he needed to be onsite at 8. Just making sure all of my speakers were onsight and ready to go.

 

[MassGuy]

He wasn't necessarily arriving well before he needed to. Often CEO's show up shortly before an event and get their final prep. Reminders of what to say and what not to say. It's possible that he had a meeting with PR staff at 8 am. So his arrival time wouldn't have been super early. These senior execs are super busy and they rely on their staff to give them updates and reminders of key talking points.

But the main point remains. How did the perp know that BT would show up at that entrance. Clearly he didn't know the exact time, as he hung out in the area well before the shooting. But he easily recognized his target. So who was the shooter?

To be honest, I'm way more comfortable believing this guy didn't know specifically when BT would arrive, and just happened to time it relatively well. If someone else had been keeping tabs on BT, then there's a good chance they'd also show up in surveillance footage at his hotel.

 

[whitelilac]

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but I don’t understand how they know that the bicycle was equipped with GPS if they don’t have it in their possession??

At first they stated that the bike he was seen on was a Citi Bike that you rent, they have GPS. But it was subsequently discovered not to be.

 

[MassGuy]

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but I don’t understand how they know that the bicycle was equipped with GPS if they don’t have it in their possession??

This was based on the initial (incorrect) belief that the bike he used was a Citibike. It was not.

 

[lydiafaithfull]

So where did he go on his e-bike once he hit Central Park? He had a plan.

Probably right into an empty semi truck with the engine running.