Gunman at large after UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in ‘brazen targeted attack,’ police say

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

New York CNN  — 

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning in a “brazen, targeted attack” as he walked toward the company’s annual investor conference, New York police said. The gunman remains on the loose.

Shortly before 7 a.m., a gunman, masked in the freezing temperatures, “was lying in wait” before opening fire on Thompson, according to NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” she said. “I want to be clear: At this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack.”

The gunman approached Thompson from behind and shot him at least once in the back and once in the right calf, Tisch said. Responding emergency workers took Thompson to Mount Sinai West in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.

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

[TBoneTX 45,591]

Awful.

 

On a cynical note, let's hope that UHC doesn't raise rates consequent to this.

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

2 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Awful.

 

On a cynical note, let's hope that UHC doesn't raise rates consequent to this.

i wonder if he had to pay his deductible before treatment....

[slim 1,530]

Is it ironic we have a "professional hit" using a suppressed weapon right when folks are talking about getting rid of the NFA? 

[Boiler 45,730]

Whatever he is he is not a Pro.

 

What is the point of the NFA if you just get pardoned?

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

4 hours ago, slim said:

Is it ironic we have a "professional hit" using a suppressed weapon right when folks are talking about getting rid of the NFA? 

the experts say he wasn't a professional
i'm betting on someone who lost a  family member due to denied care

 

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend

A message left at the scene of a health insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims.
The three words were written on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry.

more at https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-delay-deny-defend-depose-ee73ceb19f361835c654f04a3b88c50c

 

[Boiler 45,730]

I had not seen the incident, nor any commentary, I was just going from some initial description of the event, hanging around in a Starbucks where there were cameras.

 

I would add a couple of things, a Suppressor is not that common in the US, needs a special license to get one, and maybe that is much more a line of enquiry than the gun. Not sure if they know the model.

 

Agree about the range, looks like he could have got a lot closer.

 

Wonder if he used regular ammo?

 

[yuna628 9,687]

I've heard that the articles of clothing he was wearing and then a change of clothing were particularly expensive items.

And I've also heard that the lady at the hostel was flirting with him. I thought that odd that she would flirt with this guy upon first casual meeting with him dressed in this way unless something was particular about him. Does he have an accent perhaps?

Was on a bus from GA to NYC but had a fake ID from NJ. How did he buy the gun?

Why choose to stay in a hostel? Wouldn't you risk being exposed to a lot of people?

Have also heard the wife was secretly estranged from the victim.

[Neonred 3,577]

46 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

How did he buy the gun?

 

I'm more interested in the suppressor.  I just got one a few months ago and to qualify I had to submit a complete set of finger prints to ATF.

If they have the burner phone he dropped and the water bottle from Starbucks I'm hoping there are prints they can match up.

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

10 hours ago, Neonred said:

I'm more interested in the suppressor.  I just got one a few months ago and to qualify I had to submit a complete set of finger prints to ATF.

If they have the burner phone he dropped and the water bottle from Starbucks I'm hoping there are prints they can match up.

may be a dead end as those can be made.

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

[Ban Hammer 13,429]

the assassin has now been nicknamed "the claims adjuster"

[Neonred 3,577]

21 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Have also heard the wife was secretly estranged from the victim.

Had not heard that, but guess who is the first person that receives the most scrutiny following a murder such as this.

[Dashinka 24,635]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:25 PM, Boiler said:

Whatever he is he is not a Pro.

 

What is the point of the NFA if you just get pardoned?

He may not be a pro, but he certainly has disappeared relatively easy.  He seems to be good with fake IDs, so chances are he took the bus to Buffalo, headed across the border and got on a flight to a non-extradition country.  As to motive, who knows, I heard some talking wonk suggest this may have been an elaborate suicide considering the investigations this CEO was under.  Who really knows.  What is troubling is the amount of folks that seem to think this killing was somewhat justified.  If I was a CEO of any company, I would be a bit concerned.

Edited December 9 by Dashinka