# UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in Manhattan \[breaking news: 2024-12-04\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [December 4, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159 "2024-12-04T16:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/363 "2024-12-07T03:44:09Z")
> [Police](https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135) were looking into the possibility that the weapon was a veterinary pistol, which is a weapon commonly used on farms and ranches if an animal has to be euthanized quietly, (Chief of Detectives Joseph) Kenny said — though he stressed that hadn’t been confirmed. maybe another type of gun altogether ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/364 "2024-12-07T03:51:00Z")
See also “B&T” and “Welrod,” previously mentioned upthread. It’s chambered in 9mm – allegedly, the same as the cartridges and casings found at the scene. > **[Brügger & Thomet VP9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%BCgger_%26_Thomet_VP9)** > > The Brügger & Thomet VP9 (Veterinary Pistol 9mm) is a manual repeater, magazine fed, integrally-suppressed pistol created by Brügger & Thomet (now B&T) for use as a veterinary pistol for putting down sick and wounded animals. The design is based on the Welrod pistol. > The design is heavily based on the Welrod pistol designed by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for use in World War II and is mechanically almost identical. Its original purpose was to quickly and humanely put down sick animal... Curiouser and curiouser… ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/365 "2024-12-07T04:08:43Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Speculation from law enforcement that he used a veterinary gun (used to put down large animals?) typically used on farms and are relatively quiet. > [@eschereal](#): > > maybe another type of gun altogether > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Curiouser and curiouser… Not a Bell Gun, a Welrod, a B&T VP9/Station SIX-9, or any other exotic “assassin’s gun”; this is pretty clearly a standard short recoil autoloading pistol with a large suppressor (which can be legally purchased in many states by just paying a federal tax stamp, and can be constructed by a reasonably handy person albeit with questionable reliability) that is experiencing feed or failure to return to battery failures. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/366 "2024-12-07T04:49:49Z")
Thanks for pounding/expounding on the gun. Alas, in 15 more posts, we’ll be back to wild speculation about vet guns and similar. I despair. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/367 "2024-12-07T07:48:42Z")
Social media has come up with a nickname for the alleged shooter. The Insurance Adjuster. I’ve also seen Triple D (for Deny Defend Depose). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/368 "2024-12-07T11:18:52Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Unless I’m misreading what you’re saying, I would bet my bottom dollar he didn’t ride that bike to Canada. For so many reasons. It’s a little bit of a joke, I didn’t expect that part to be taken seriously. > [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > > He would need a passport, and an airline ticket, and would have to go through Canada Customs at a land crossing > > There is no wall at the Canadian border. I know places where it’s just a short trek thru a farmer’s field _if_ you have someone picking you up on the other side. Or small boat, even. Heck, every summer a certain number of boats on the Great Lakes wind up on the wrong shore by accident. Most of the border between New York and Canada are water crossings, but in the Northeast part of the state it’s a land border with, as noted, little to no barrier to crossing. > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > I honestly don’t understand the speculation about Canada at all. It’s another barrier to being found. Presumably, the Canadian authorities were not on such a high alert for this fugitive, and it might have been easier for him to get a plane to go elsewhere in Canada than in New York State. He does seem to favor bus travel. As pointed out thought, there is a bus line that goes from NYC to Scarborough, Ontaria, He’d need a passport because there would be some customs when they crossed the border but it still might be less scrutiny than the airlines. Admittedly, this is speculation, a quite a bit depends on him getting on the road (or bus) before the authorities had widened the search for him and alerted Canadian authorities. I don’t know if they’ve done that, but it seems to me that even if it’s unlikely giving a heads up to the border might not be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/369 "2024-12-07T15:04:11Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Presumably, the Canadian authorities were not on such a high alert for this fugitive, and it might have been easier for him to get a plane to go elsewhere in Canada than in New York State. LEO in the US and Canada have an extremely close working relationship, precisely because of the border issues. There is a mutual legal assistance treaty, and there is sharing of the LEO computer databanks, particularly for the border and for airlines. The US has US border control offices in some of the major Canadian airports, like Pearson Toronto. I have no information to respond to this particular case, but I highly doubt that Canadian border and LEO would not be fully aware of the issue and on the alert, precisely because a fugitive from a high-publicity event in the US may try to get out of the country quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/370 "2024-12-07T15:20:33Z")
I wonder if his wife has called Morgan and Morgan for Workmans Comp, claiming his death was within the scope of his employment. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/371 "2024-12-07T22:36:11Z")
[A Reuters story](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/nyc-mayor-says-suspect-identified-unitedhealth-executives-murder-ny-post-reports-2024-12-07/) says that the police have IDed the shooter but are not giving out the name yet, in order to not give him an edge. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/372 "2024-12-07T22:43:02Z")
How in the world would releasing the suspect’s name give him an edge? They think that might clue him in on the fact he’s murdered someone and should be on the run? Heh, I see the quote comes from Eric Adams. Can’t say I’m buying much of what he’s selling these days. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/373 "2024-12-07T22:45:18Z")
Keep in mind, their source for that is Eric Adams via the New York Post. And as we all know, the Post would NEVER jump the gun on IDing a suspect… [![](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/7d3/6d6/795621a46f0b47d6eeb92c580d50f9fca0-20-post.rvertical.w330.jpg) ](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/7d3/6d6/795621a46f0b47d6eeb92c580d50f9fca0-20-post.rvertical.w330.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/374 "2024-12-07T23:50:41Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > How in the world would releasing the suspect’s name give him an edge? They think that might clue him in on the fact he’s murdered someone and should be on the run? I’m LOLing out loud at the article. I’m pretty sure the shooter knows who he is. Probably known for some time. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/375 "2024-12-07T23:55:43Z")
It may be that the authorities are trying to blow smoke up the shooter’s ass in an effort to make him nervous so that he will fuck up in some major way that leads to exposing himself. As the bus he is on is getting closer and closer to Springfield. Or maybe Farmington. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/376 "2024-12-08T00:04:45Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > As the bus he is on is getting closer and closer to Springfield. Or maybe Farmington. He left the city on Wednesday. That bus could be in Timbuktu by now. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/377 "2024-12-08T00:21:33Z")
Boy, that would be kind of pushing it. If the bus were to average 60 mph, it could actually be in Timbuktu by now, assuming no mechanical problems or difficult weather on the Atlantic crossing. But, that is based on straight-line distance, which buses rarely follow. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/378 "2024-12-08T00:22:25Z")
This has been a fascinating case study. Apparently none of the usual internet sleuths who track down racist “Karens” are getting involved in helping to find this guy. The cops usually have lots of help. > **[Why top internet sleuths say they won't help find the UnitedHealthcare CEO...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-top-internet-sleuths-wont-021107977.html)** > > TikTok users who would normally leap at the chance to identify an alleged criminal are standing down during the manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This may actually help bring about change in the system. A different insurance company already changed one unpopular policy. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/379 "2024-12-08T00:24:32Z")
I cannot recall any investigation where the police faced such an uncooperative public. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/380 "2024-12-08T00:35:32Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This may actually help bring about change in the system. A different insurance company already changed one unpopular policy. I doubt it. I really, really do. Meanwhile, the CEO’s and rich people are wondering why there is no sympathy for their dead. They don’t realize how close the peasants are to revolting. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/381 "2024-12-08T00:42:15Z")
Yeah, probably not. The Uber rich will win in the end. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/382 "2024-12-08T00:43:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > They don’t realize how close the peasants are to revolting. From the comic strip, “BC:” [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSRTBPUPOHadQ7c9NPL8ktoEzpWv56n3F3cg&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSRTBPUPOHadQ7c9NPL8ktoEzpWv56n3F3cg&s) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=20)