# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/21 "2024-12-04T17:45:47Z")
I suspect someone’s wife died when denied coverage for an operation or medication. Not a joke. ---
**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 4, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/22 "2024-12-04T17:47:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > An interesting tidbit. More likely misfired than jammed. To accomplish that quickly in the heat of the moment and three times to boot suggests the killer had some actual firearms skill. Not just some angry goofball who finally lost it and bought a gun, any gun, yesterday on his way into town. It only takes a one hour lesson and a day at the range to get those skills. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/23 "2024-12-04T17:54:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Investigators and security at UnitedHealthcare are combing through files searching for a possible motive, looking for possible previous threats, and disgruntled or recently fired workers, a law enforcement source said. Police are also looking at social media and interviewing employees, family members and others who knew Thompson, Kenny said. > **[UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed in targeted attack...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/midtown-manhattan-shooting-hilton-hotel/)** > > UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, police say. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/24 "2024-12-04T17:55:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > the killer had some actual firearms skill Would someone with firearm skill use a weapon that misfires 50% of the time? I’d bet on someone who had a gun (and ammunition) moldering in his closet for 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/25 "2024-12-04T18:14:09Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It only takes a one hour lesson and a day at the range to get those skills. Granted in an academic sense. But cool under pressure doesn’t come from a one hour class. Pulling off a killing and escaping is kinda a stressful thing to try. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I’d bet on someone who had a gun (and ammunition) moldering in his closet for 15 years. Now that’s a likely scenario. My take is the misfires are ammo problems, not gun problems. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/26 "2024-12-04T18:18:01Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > the killer had some actual firearms skill > > Would someone with firearm skill use a weapon that misfires 50% of the time? > > I’d bet on someone who had a gun (and ammunition) moldering in his closet for 15 years. A gun not cleaned and well lubricated can easily do this. Even a quality firearm. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/27 "2024-12-04T18:22:17Z")
_His policy expired._ I expect that the shooting will be tied to a coverage claims dispute. Narrowing it down to a suspect could be difficult. Unless there’s clear physical evidence the police can track. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/28 "2024-12-04T18:25:28Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > An interesting tidbit. More likely misfired than jammed. To accomplish that quickly in the heat of the moment and three times to boot suggests the killer had some actual firearms skill. Not just some angry goofball who finally lost it and bought a gun, any gun, yesterday on his way into town. > > It only takes a one hour lesson and a day at the range to get those skills. Disagree. It may take an hour lesson to learn how to recover from the misfire / jam, but being actually able to do it in a high-stress situation takes experience. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/29 "2024-12-04T18:27:50Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > It may take an hour lesson to learn how to recover from the misfire / jam, but being actually able to do it in a high-stress situation takes experience. Not to mention that the shooter was cool enough to have made sure a bicycle was at hand (one of the Citi Bike share-system ones) and to use it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/30 "2024-12-04T18:47:14Z")
Someone denied coverage, likely for a family member, is a good possibility. As mentioned it could also be a personal grudge unrelated to health insurance. They don’t seem to know who this guy is yet and that means he could be far away by now. I doubt it will take long to identify the suspect and the back story to be revealed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/31 "2024-12-04T18:58:43Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > While it’s not impossible that he was murdered by an angry policyholder, it seems less likely to me than some other possibilities (for one thing, CEO’s don’t make decisions on individual coverage issues). CEOs are where the buck stops, so an angry policyholder might go after the CEO instead of an unnamed drone in a cube farm. In any case, my post was mostly in jest. It didn’t sound like an upset customer to me. It sounded like a professional hit. So I would be looking at who would hire a hitman to rub him out. But a disgruntled policyholder is nice gallows humour. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/32 "2024-12-04T19:01:01Z")
I’m but sorry but thoughts and prayers require prior authorization. ---
**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 4, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/33 "2024-12-04T19:06:48Z")
I just saw an interview with a witness. He said that the CEO had stepped outside to smoke ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/34 "2024-12-04T19:07:19Z")
Oswald used an old Italian pea shooter to fire 3 times in 7 or 8 seconds ! Anything is possible! I’m sure Oswald was under pressure too ---
**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 4, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/35 "2024-12-04T19:27:35Z")
Two ex-FBI guys (Josh Campbell, Andrew McCabe) and a former Piece of Cholief (Charles Ramsey) on CNN say that this has all the marks of a trained professional – either pro hit man or former law enforcement officer or military. The weapon appears to be fitted with a suppressor. The talking heads are impressed with the killer’s apparent sangfroid and the calm demeanor with which he cleared the malfunction(s). I’m with those who say that you could learn much of this rather quickly, but that actually pulling it off … in the middle of a gangland-style execution … basically as the sun comes up … and on a Manhattan street … not nothing. There’s also the whole issue of how he figured out exactly where this guy would be, and when. So far, that doesn’t strike me as trivial. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/36 "2024-12-04T19:39:24Z")
I haven’t seen any information about a suppressor being used on the pistol, but it might make more sense regarding the unfired cartridges. Semiautomatic pistols are notorious for being more unreliable in cycling if a suppressor is installed without additional work or adjustment. But this is speculation on my part. I can’t imagine a person would install a suppressor and then fail to check for proper function. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/37 "2024-12-04T19:49:16Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > I haven’t seen any information about a suppressor being used on the pistol They mentioned it on the morning news around 06:00 today. > [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Semiautomatic pistols are notorious for being more unreliable in cycling if a suppressor is installed without additional work or adjustment. AIUI, suppressed pistols need subsonic rounds to really be quiet. Normal rounds still have the sonic shockwave. If the assassin was using subsonic rounds, that makes him sound more like a professional. I’ve never fired one, but my guess is that subsonic rounds might not have the energy to cycle the action reliably. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/38 "2024-12-04T19:53:55Z")
> **[Who is Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down in New York?](https://www.npr.org/2024/12/04/nx-s1-5215881/brian-thompson-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shot-new-york)** > > Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, spent two decades at UnitedHealth Group before his shocking death. Tributes are pouring in from coworkers and public officials in his home state of Minnesota. The article mentions his wife, who states: _Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had been receiving threats._ _“Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details, I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said, adding that she couldn’t give a more thoughtful response because she was trying to console her kids._ ---
**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 4, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/39 "2024-12-04T20:00:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > While it’s not impossible that he was murdered by an angry policyholder, it seems less likely to me than some other possibilities (for one thing, CEO’s don’t make decisions on individual coverage issues). No, but CEO’s do represent their companies. My first thought was that either someone was denied medical care, or has been financially ruined by medical debt. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > > It appears they recovered 3 spent shells and 3 cartridges that were ejected. Apparently the gun jammed repeatedly and the gunman was able to clear it each time and still get off 3 shots. > > An interesting tidbit. More likely misfired than jammed. To accomplish that quickly in the heat of the moment and three times to boot suggests the killer had some actual firearms skill. Not just some angry goofball who finally lost it and bought a gun, any gun, yesterday on his way into town. Yeah. Thing is there are probably 100 million people in the US who aren’t “goofballs” but have some actual firearms experience that wound enable them to do that. But apparently he couldn’t afford a reliable firearm. Maybe he had to get a cheap one because he didn’t have a lot of money due to onerous medical debt? Or he didn’t bother to clean said firearm. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I’m with those who say that you could learn much of this rather quickly, but that actually pulling it off … in the middle of a gangland-style execution … basically as the sun comes up … and on a Manhattan street … not nothing. > > There’s also the whole issue of how he figured out exactly where this guy would be, and when. So far, that doesn’t strike me as trivial. So… it could be a disgruntled policy holder with police or military or gang experience. I mean, all of those folks use health care too, just like everybody else. Or have loved ones needing/needed care. I had a couple of uncles with _both_ military (WWII frontline experience so actual killing, not a desk job) and police experience. Not that any of them ever did anything like that, but they had the skills to do that even if not the motive. Or maybe he was a professional hitman hired to take this guy out by a business rival. It’s _possible_… but my money is on a health coverage issue. > [@snowthx](#): > > The article mentions his wife, who states: > _Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had been receiving threats._ > > _“Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details, I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said, adding that she couldn’t give a more thoughtful response because she was trying to console her kids._ Ah, see… yeah, healthcare coverage dispute is looking most likely at this point. It’s early yet - we probably won’t get more details for at least a couple days. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/40 "2024-12-04T20:00:56Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > (SNIP) > There’s also the whole issue of how he figured out exactly where this guy would be, and when. So far, that doesn’t strike me as trivial. This is a thing that keeps sticking in my mind. It appears the gunman knew the entrance to the Hilton Thompson would be using which is why he was waiting there. That strikes me as more information than a disgruntled policy holder would know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=3)