# 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:** 4
**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, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/61 "2024-12-04T21:30:12Z")
And Oswald had experience. > [@JoePockets](#): > > I’m but sorry but thoughts and prayers require prior authorization. where’s that damned “like” button? ---
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/62 "2024-12-04T21:34:50Z")
Now _who_ could have seen (/heard) _that_ coming? > But since the companies’ sensors won’t work downtown due to tall buildings causing an echo factor {…} [This was Chicago – [**SOURCE**](https://abc7chicago.com/post/search-replacement-shotspotter-technology-has-aldermen-questioning-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnsons-sincerity/15350306/)] “Lemme’ bounce something off of you, Fred …” :rolleyes: ---
**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, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/63 "2024-12-04T21:35:13Z")
For the record, I’m amazed at the completely ho-hum reaction to a CEO assassinated on a busy NYC street. I mean, he’s not exactly John Gotti getting rubbed out by a rival gangster, yet we all seem to be “well, these things are to be expected with the business he chose”. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/64 "2024-12-04T21:35:16Z")
I suppose at this point, appallingly enough, we find it kind of refreshing to see an actual honest to goodness classic targeted street _hit_ as opposed to someone just randomly wiping out the whole breakfast buffet line. There are aready pics out that seem to show the suspect on the e-bike, as well as at Starbucks before the attack. > [@scabpicker](#): > > Well, if you’re going to kill someone on the street in the open, it would be best to attract as little attention as possible from the persons in the area. Though the surveillance vid shows he shot the man with some other pedestrian standing right there beside them (pedestrian, appropriately, booked out fast once they noticed what was up). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/65 "2024-12-04T21:46:07Z")
I wonder if they can trace the shooter by the credit card used to rent the bike? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/66 "2024-12-04T21:48:06Z")
As Voltaire put it, " pour encourager les autres"? ---
**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 4, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/67 "2024-12-04T21:55:49Z")
If this was a professional (or someone who watches a lot of true crime documentaries) they probably used a disposable prepaid debit card and a burner phone to rent the bike while obscuring their identity. Tracking down where the card and the phone were purchased would have to be the next step in trying to identify them. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/68 "2024-12-04T21:56:24Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I mean, he’s not exactly John Gotti getting rubbed out by a rival gangster, yet we all seem to be “well, these things are to be expected with the business he chose”. What surprises me is that the assassin actually chose someone who had power in that system instead of killing a doctor like they usually do. More of a big picture thinker than most. After all, our health care system is, in fact, evil. ---
**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 4, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/69 "2024-12-04T22:06:13Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > For the record, I’m amazed at the completely ho-hum reaction to a CEO assassinated on a busy NYC street. Every man’s death diminishes us all. But, I don’t know the guy. To me, this is just another Law and Order episode. I’m already past the “denied healthcare to dying daughter” suspects and moved into “gay lover/blackmail” suspects. And finally to his brother as the shooter because he stole the brother’s classic comic collection. chung chung ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/70 "2024-12-04T22:15:45Z")
I’m going to be looking out for the gun afficionado YouTubers debating how his supressor set-up made his firearm malfunction repeatedly and evaluating his clearing technique. ---
**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/71 "2024-12-04T22:20:11Z")
He was in the city to speak at a conference. That makes it even more puzzling how someone knew where to stage a shooting. Was he stalked from Minnesota to NY? The passenger list on Thompson’s flight might provide a lead. Link [UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead in 'targeted attack', New York City police say - live updates - BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/crmn2ry1224t) > [@](#): > > - the attack > - Thompson, head of the [largest private insurer in the United States](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/crmn2ry1224t?post=asset%3A8afb186a-cb13-4786-a7fe-2c7bae389850#post), lives in Minnesota and was in New York to speak at an investor conference later in the day. ---
**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, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/72 "2024-12-04T22:29:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > 9mm is kinda wimpy these days. and would be doubly so if custom-loaded lightly to be subsonic. _If_ any of that silencer story turns out to verify. As you well know it’s all about shot placement. A favorite toy of mine is a subcompact 1911 in 22LR, which is a really wimpy round. But, just ask Mossad. They did just fine with them after 1972 Munich. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/73 "2024-12-04T22:34:58Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > “Lemme’ bounce something off of you, Fred …” > > :rolleyes: Fred: Awww, shoot, it won’t work NYPost image of his escape route: [![](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/midtown-shooting.jpg) ](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/midtown-shooting.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/74 "2024-12-04T22:50:53Z")
Is it possible he knew his suppressor set-up would cause this to happen every time, and he just planned to operate the action by hand after each shot? Perhaps that’s an OK trade-off in some situations, and you practice it until it’s smooth? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/75 "2024-12-04T22:56:46Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > For the record, I’m amazed at the completely ho-hum reaction to a CEO assassinated on a busy NYC street. The response I’m seeing elsewhere is even less sympathetic, usually variations on “Good riddance” and “hopefully this is just the first.” People are both enraged at the health care industry and don’t feel there’s any legal way to stop them from abusing people. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/76 "2024-12-04T22:57:42Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m pretty ignorant about guns. Why have a silencer if you’re using the weapon out in the open like that. Silencers don’t really work like we’re used to seeing on television. The gunshot is still quite loud and you’re going to notice it. But one reason to use a suppressor is to make it a little more difficult to figure out where the shot came from. Let’s say you’re walking down the stree and hear a loud bang. The suppressor might make it a little difficult to pinpoint where that shot came from making it difficult for witnesses to tell police where the shots came from. A few weeks ago there were some gunshots in my neighborhood (nobody shot), and as I sat in my driveway waiting for the police to arrive I heard more shots. I told the nice officer where I thought the gunshots came from and he said, “I’ve gotten three different answers now.” I don’t believe anyone used a suppressor in my neighborhood though. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/78 "2024-12-04T22:59:40Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > People are both enraged at the health care industry and don’t feel there’s any legal way to stop them from abusing people. Sometimes they can. > The family of a Las Vegas man who was denied health insurance coverage for a specific type of lung cancer treatment, then later died, has won a $200 million civil verdict against his health insurance provider, according to court records. > > The family of William George “Bill” Eskew sued Sierra Health and Life Insurance in 2019. A jury trial led to an initial $40 million verdict a week ago, along with another $160 million in punitive damages against Sierra Health in the courtroom of District Judge Nadia Krall. > > Sierra Health is a UnitedHealthcare company, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group. [Sierra Health loses $200M verdict to family of Las Vegas man | Courts | Crime](https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/family-of-las-vegas-man-wins-200m-verdict-against-sierra-health-2559683/) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/79 "2024-12-04T23:01:12Z")
And did that bring their dead loved one back to life? Punishing some people for having abused other people is not the same as stopping them from abusing people: if someone died, nobody stopped them. ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/80 "2024-12-04T23:06:24Z")
Pretty sure Scott’s crimes were with a different, and unrelated, health care company: [https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2003/June/03\_civ\_386.htm](https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2003/June/03_civ_386.htm) He’s a disgusting individual, regardless, but I don’t think Columbia/HCA is directly related to UnitedHealthcare. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/82 "2024-12-04T23:16:44Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > He’s a disgusting individual, regardless, but I don’t think Columbia/HCA is directly related to UnitedHealthcare. This is correct. HCA is a healthcare provider (i.e., they operate hospitals and clinics); UnitedHealth is completely separate, and they have a health insurance division (UnitedHealthcare, of which Thompson was the CEO) and a heathcare division (Optum). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=5)