Man sought in UnitedHealthcare shooting may have traveled to NYC from Atlanta last month
www.nbcnews.com
As the manhunt continues, officials say the gunman who killed Brian Thompson, 50, may have traveled to New York City from Atlanta by bus last month.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22793020

Summary

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in a premeditated attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. The gunman, still at large, fired at Thompson multiple times, striking him in the back and calf.

Shell casings found at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” written on them, according to law enforcement. Despite known threats, Thompson did not have a security detail.

Surveillance footage shows the assailant ambushing Thompson from behind before fleeing. The motive remains unclear as investigations continue.

It’s a book reference: https://delaydenydefend.com/

    • GoebbelsDeezNuts [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      45·
      7 days ago

      I mean it still could’ve been, making it seem like he was some kind of folk hero would be a pretty good cover, but doing so would also be incredibly poor optics considering you’re just reinforcing everyone’s hatred of healthcare providers. That’s assuming it’s a competitor.

      IMO who knows, who cares? He’s already a legend and I’ll take it.

      • MouthyHooker [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
        11·
        7 days ago

        Allow me to play unqualified detective here: this seems too risky for a professional hit. Faking suicide seems a lot safer. Why risk doing it in public in front of witnesses and potentially in front of cops? NYC is crawling with cops on every corner, plus all the cameras everywhere. Why wouldn’t they Epstein him or you know…he accidentally “falls out a window?” Or even poison?

        I think vigilante is most likely because the shooter did not have access to the victim the way a pro hitman probably would.

          • MouthyHooker [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
            8·
            7 days ago

            Right. I’m thinking of the Boeing whistleblowers. That was a big news story and clearly a professional hit job but there’s still plausible deniability. Whereas when you shoot someone on the street in Manhattan, there is no question of it being a homicide. That plus the bullet casings points to the shooter wanting it to be a huge story. And if you’re hiring a hitman, you don’t want a huge police investigation. Obviously with a “suicide” there will be a death investigation but the way the shooter carried this out pretty much guaranteed FBI involvement. I would think hitmen on a corporate payroll would want to avoid that.