Investigators have not yet publicly identified the gunman who ambushed the 50-year-old insurance executive early Wednesday.

Summary

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in a targeted attack outside a New York Hilton hotel, with investigators describing the killing as meticulously planned.

The gunman fled on foot, then by rental bike, and possibly left the city via bus. Shell casings at the scene had words like “deny” and “defend” inscribed, hinting at a motive linked to Thompson’s work.

Experts suggest the shooter may have military or weapons experience but left key clues, including surveillance footage and discarded items.

Police are analyzing evidence, including DNA, to identify the suspect.

  • frezik@midwest.social
    68·
    9 days ago

    Even avoiding airports, he could be on the other end of the country by now.

    Isn’t there’s something where if the police don’t find a suspect in the first few days, they probably won’t? May not apply when the case has this much attention and the police are motivated.

    • NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip
      1085·
      9 days ago

      “The first 48 (hours)” is misleading.

      First, it is mostly a function of how much the cops care. If they care about finding someone they will get off their asses. If they don’t, they will just procrastinate and ignore it. This is why you have stories of families frantically trying to get any help at all to find their loved one that was written off as “a junkie” or “a slut”.

      Second, it matters more when you are dependent on grocery store security cameras and the like that might only have 24 hours of capacity anyway. Less so when you are relying on train stations and bus stations that got all that 9-11 money.

      Third? The cops likely already have all they need to identify him. He was allegedly tracked to having got on a bus in Atlanta. They have a few photos of his face. And basically everyone is in the DMV databases. That gives a general tri-state area (possibly an outright car if they check long term parking for the period he was away) and they can narrow that down by employment status (taking a few weeks off to go off grid is not something a Starbucks barista is allowed to do) and even UHC records to see who was denied a claim in the past few years (fortunately THAT doesn’t narrow shit down at all).

      So they can eventually find him. It is inevitable.

      That said: This is the cops. The first white guy who looks vaguely like the shooter and who has no alibi will be heroically killed by the cops when they went to ask him questions and he opened fire while screaming “I am the guy who killed the UHC CEO and I feel really really bad about it and only did it because I am woke and hate my life and please forgive me officer but I will never be taken alive. Also I am pro illegal immigrants and am spraying fentanyl around in case any cops piss hot after this.”. Also he had a dime bag of weed on him for some reason. Sorry, half a dime bag.