NY - UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown. #2

[Betty P]

I think we can pretty much rule out that this is the work of an extremist group. It just seems extremely far-fetched (almost preposterous) to consider that as being a real possibility. And, according to the principle of Occam's Razor, we should put our greatest attention to the least contrived of possibilities.

I agree. Health care reform doesn't attract the extremist types. More often they're compassionate. Many who are victims of health care/insurance abuse end up being very ill, disabled, terminally ill or deceased. Anyone who has been financially victimized obviously doesn't have the resources to hire a hit man.

ETA: Most Americans don't realize how bad our system of health care is until they have to use it for something serious or costly. Americans don't have much empathy for others experiencing these problems.

 

[Elley Mae]

Adams, a former NYPD captain - “In all of my years of law enforcement, I have never seen a silencer before and so that was really something that was shocking to us all”

Some people advised in prior thread that there are extra 'measures' for want of a better word to go through in order to obtain a suppressor. Guessing LE may have decided to try and track the origin of the suppressor first rather than just the gun as it would be a smaller pool of evidence to work through.

I'm not convinced it was obtained through trackable means though personally. That said, the shooter seems to have made some very dumb moves so maybe it will turn out to just be another dumb move. JMO.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/unitedhealthcare-brian-thompson-death-12-5-24/index.html

The Supressor I am aware of cost $800 and the tax stamp $200. It took a year to get cleared and receive the paperwork that has to be with the suppressed weapon at all times.

Not cheap and not an over the counter purchase.

Jmo

 

[DS2021]

The thing that most people do not understand about insurance coverage through an employer is that it's actually the employer who decides on what coverage to purchase from a health insurance provider. People like to play the blame game with insurance companies when, in fact, it's the employer that ultimately decides the level of coverage they are willing to offer their employees. The insurance companies just provide the level of service they are paid for.

Its alleged that unitedhealthcare was using an ai system that was denying claims that should've been approved. You are right about the level of coverage, however the main issue seems to be that the insurance company was refusing to cover things that they were supposed to.

Please correct me if im wrong

 

[Calisto]

Let's focus on possibilities that make sense. As for the insider trading angle ~ that seems a bit far-fetched (yes, its possible, anything is possible, but far-fetched.) The wife being a murderer also less than likely (many of the folks here have clearly been watching way too many crime tv shows !!!)

 

[Inthedetails]

Accomplice or no accomplice, the gunman had no way of knowing what time the CEO would be coming to the Hilton, so to be on the safe side, the gunman planned to get to the Hilton early, just in case the CEO would opt to arrive at the hotel early. For all the gunman knew, there was a very good chance that the CEO would be arriving at maybe something like 7:45 or 8am, a time when West 54th street would be teeming with workers arriving to work. Was the gunman prepared in his mind to do an assassination in the middle of a very busy street ? That would have been super dangerous for the gunman, as bystanders could get involved in trying to catch him !!! He ended up being super lucky that the CEO ended up showing up early, as the streets were still empty then. If the CEO happened to arrive at a later time, like 8am, the gunman would have put himself into a very difficult assassination plan.

I respectfully disagree that luck had anything to do with the timing.

There was a bystander, leaning against the wall of the building and within feet of the shooting. The assassin did not flinch or care.

The timing seems precise. My opinion.

jmo

 

[tlcya]

A backpack maker believes he has identified the gunman’s bag. Apparently, so have many others.​

Peter Dering, the founder and chief executive of Peak Design, looked down at his phone Wednesday morning in San Francisco and saw about 10 texts, some from people he had not heard from in years.

They had sent pictures and an urgent question: “This your backpack?”
A Backpack Maker Believes He Identified the Shooting Suspect’s Bag

 

[MesquiteO21]

Accomplice or no accomplice, the gunman had no way of knowing what time the CEO would be coming to the Hilton, so to be on the safe side, the gunman planned to get to the Hilton early, just in case the CEO would opt to arrive at the hotel early. For all the gunman knew, there was a very good chance that the CEO would be arriving at maybe something like 7:45 or 8am, a time when West 54th street would be teeming with workers arriving to work. Was the gunman prepared in his mind to do an assassination in the middle of a very busy street ? That would have been super dangerous for the gunman, as bystanders could get involved in trying to catch him !!! He ended up being super lucky that the CEO ended up showing up early, as the streets were still empty then. If the CEO happened to arrive at a later time, like 8am, the gunman would have put himself into a very difficult assassination plan.

i think this is why we speculate he was working with someone else who had access to Brian's schedule and habits. maybe Brian typically left hotels around 6:45am for 8:00am meetings
jmo

 

[Baby baby Jane]

I highly doubt this economy affected their decisions whatsoever. He was making $10 million a year. MOO

It’s a fairly typical CEO pay of large listed company … prob very similar to his peers in healthcare/insurance.

 

[Deleted member 349831]

We spoke to Matheus Taranto -- a man visiting from Brazil and staying at the same hostel -- who says he couldn't access certain parts of his floor because cops were there. Taranto said he did not recognize the man in the suspect photos.

UnitedHealthcare Shooting Suspect Seen on Video Riding Bike After Killing

Police say the suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson can't hide forever in NYC ... 'cause security cameras recorded a person believed to be the shooter riding away from the murder scene.

www.tmz.com

 

[alsleuther]

i think this is why we speculate he was working with someone else who had access to Brian's schedule and habits. maybe Brian typically left hotels around 6:45am for 8:00am meetings
jmo

yes, and the gunman was stopping for snacks and coffee 30 min earlier. I don't think luck put him in the exact correct spot at the right time.

Somehow he knew exactly when to be standing there to come face to face with the CEO.

 

[Calisto]

i think this is why we speculate he was working with someone else who had access to Brian's schedule and habits. maybe Brian typically left hotels around 6:45am for 8:00am meetings
jmo

I also think that is VERY far-fetched to believe that the gunman had an accomplice that was inside the hotel where the CEO was staying. That works great on tv, but in real life, that seems like a rather unlikely possibility, as that would be extremely (ie too) difficult to arrange.

 

[bamachica]

I suggested a weapon earlier because the one he has looks odd and the way he racked it looked weird.

Welrod: Ultimate WWII Suppressed Pistol

The Welrod was an assassin's best friend in WWII. Find out how British SOE made it so quiet and effective...plus can you even get one today?

www.pewpewtactical.com

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Welrod-Suppressed-Pistol-1024x485.png

This can’t be the weapon. Ammunition for this is .32 ACP

It’s been reported the ammunition used was 9mm

 

[jimg77]

I suggested a weapon earlier because the one he has looks odd and the way he racked it looked weird.

Welrod: Ultimate WWII Suppressed Pistol

The Welrod was an assassin's best friend in WWII. Find out how British SOE made it so quiet and effective...plus can you even get one today?

www.pewpewtactical.com

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Welrod-Suppressed-Pistol-1024x485.png

The weapon you suggest has the bolt pull on the back not the side. It was also said shooter used a 9mm, the one you posted is 32 ACP.

 

[CHEL]

I think it will be extremely difficult to solve this or actually arrest someone. Considering that United Healthcare denied insurance claims at twice the industry average, causing many to rack up large medical bills or miss out on life-saving or life-improving treatment, there are suspects aplenty. I personally know someone who had to fight for almost a year to get basic postnatal care covered. Not to mention the insider trading BT was allegedly accused of. There are so many people who could have been involved or hired hit men. And many of these people are those could have experienced deaths of loved ones, chronic pain/suffering themselves, or went hugely into debt who now feel they have nothing to live for. As the CEO, BT would be accountable to that and if you were someone who suffered because of him, I’m sure your anger would increase seeing United’s record profits and BT’s huge salary.

Perp seems confident he won’t be caught or doesn’t care if he is (nothing to live for).

But they literally have a picture of this guy.

 

[Muddy K]

Unmasked suspect caught grinning, ‘flirting’ with hostel receptionist just days before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s NYC execution: sources

The NYPD has released new photos of the gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, on Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown.

nypost.com

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Have to say, IMO that easy, relaxed smile suggests someone comfortable with himself and any imminent plans. Understanding that it's not known where or when these video captures were made, I see an individual untroubled by the commitment he has made. Either that, or an individual already disconnected from reality, crazy like a fox. JMO.

 

[Curiousobserver]

MOO- we will learn that this person or a family member had a poor experience with UNH (what are the odds of that right?) and that Mr. Thompson was not a specific target, but that the gunman learned of the investor day and camped out planning to shoot the first business looking person that walked in. Even Brian Thompson wouldn't have known he was going to be in that spot at that time.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Let's focus on possibilities that make sense. As for the insider trading angle ~ that seems a bit far-fetched (yes, its possible, anything is possible, but far-fetched.) The wife being a murderer also less than likely (many of the folks here have clearly been watching way too many crime tv shows !!!)

Most murders are because of money, sex or drugs. Not all, but most IMO.

 

[Cryptic]

Remote depositions in lawsuits (all kinds) became the norm and the trend has stuck and increased with the popularity of AI growth. Just made me wonder if that may factor into the change (if there was one) of "delay" to "depose" on the shell casings.

There are..... preparations and prepositions in depositions.

That aside, "depose" can also mean to: "Suddenly remove from power" -or- "overthrown".

If "depose" is used in the above, and probably olde school context, the motive seems to go from lawsuit based to political or ideological.

 

[bossman]

i think this is why we speculate he was working with someone else who had access to Brian's schedule and habits. maybe Brian typically left hotels around 6:45am for 8:00am meetings
jmo

This Is Might Of What Happened I Was Thinking The Same Thing. The Wife Of Brain Said He Has Been Getting Death Threats But Still Went To New York.

 

[TTF14]

Accomplice or no accomplice, the gunman had no way of knowing what time the CEO would be coming to the Hilton, so to be on the safe side, the gunman planned to get to the Hilton early, just in case the CEO would opt to arrive at the hotel early. For all the gunman knew, there was a very good chance that the CEO would be arriving at maybe something like 7:45 or 8am, a time when West 54th street would be teeming with workers arriving to work. Was the gunman prepared in his mind to do an assassination in the middle of a very busy street ? That would have been super dangerous for the gunman, as bystanders could get involved in trying to catch him !!! He ended up being super lucky that the CEO ended up showing up early, as the streets were still empty then. If the CEO happened to arrive at a later time, like 8am, the gunman would have put himself into a very difficult assassination plan.

Sounds like someone who knew, knew he'd be there early. I'm assuming it was his usual way of doing things.....get there early to welcome everyone else. As the head honcho, this would be a logical "good will" type of move.

So, who all was aware of his usual M.O.?

as always, my opinion only