# Why do police think those two photos are the same person (Thompson murder)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312 "2024-12-07T16:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/21 "2024-12-08T02:07:53Z")
The getaway vehicle was not a rental bike. That was established all the way back on Wednesday evening. ---
**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 8, 2024, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/22 "2024-12-08T02:59:35Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > My guess, and it’s only that, is that the police have more images from the hostel which match up to the image of the shooter on the kill video. They’ve only released those two because those are the ones that give the best shot of his face, and therefore most likely to help identify him. According to this BBC article, citing a CBS article, the police have over 200 images of the suspect. > Police have put together more than 200 images of the suspect from his arrival in New York until he fled Midtown Manhattan after shooting Thompson, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News. That fits with the idea that they’ve only released the ones that are most likely to lead to identification. > **[What we know about fatal shooting of health executive Brian Thompson](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7ve36zg0e5o)** > > Police are still working to determine a motive in the killing as the hunt for the gunman expands beyond New York City. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/23 "2024-12-08T06:36:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, yeah, that’s why they’re already on the scene, because they’re convenient. Does NYC not have rentable ebikes and scooters all over the place, like other cities do? > > Though of course, those things are all tracked, so if you use one in a high-profile crime, you’re pretty much guaranteeing a trail, for as long as you stay on it. My point being, is it safe to stash a bike in the middle of the city? Presumably locked (Make sure you bring the key!). Even with the battery missing and locked, a bike hiding in an alley is a prime target for theft. And what’s Plan B if you arrive in the morning and the bike is missing? ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/24 "2024-12-08T07:09:33Z")
[Here’s an article](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nypd-releases-new-photos-man-sought-killing-unitedhealthcare-ceo-rcna183343) that includes two new photos police released a few hours ago, One shows him through the partition of a taxi, and the other, taken from inside a car, show him walking beside the vehicle. The article says > The NYPD has said investigators have been able to track some of his movements by taxi. So he apparently took at least one taxi. To the scene? From the scene? ---
**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, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/25 "2024-12-08T07:10:48Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > So he apparently took at least one taxi. To the scene? From the scene? The taxi was to the bus terminal after the shooting, after he disposed of the getaway bike. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/26 "2024-12-08T07:29:45Z")
Ah. Makes sense. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/27 "2024-12-08T13:20:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > According to this BBC article, citing a CBS article, the police have over 200 images of the suspect. > > > Police have put together more than 200 images of the suspect from his arrival in New York until he fled Midtown Manhattan after shooting Thompson, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News. I shouldn’t be, but I’m always surprised at how much we’re tracked and photographed nowadays. I wonder how many images exist of me, from a simple trip to the pharmacy? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/28 "2024-12-08T13:31:59Z")
The handgun has been identified as a Veterinary Pistol, used to put down farm animals. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/29 "2024-12-08T13:48:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Does NYC not have rentable ebikes and scooters all over the place, like other cities do? Just Citi Bikes, which you get from various stations and have to be dropped off in other stations. No scooters and no “leave-anywhere” bikes or e-bikes. And, of course, you need a credit card to use the Citi bikes, so they would be pretty traceable for a would-be assassin. ---
**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, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/30 "2024-12-08T13:53:13Z")
At least the NY Post … at least as of yesterday afternoon … doesn’t believe there’s _certainty_ on this question: > **[Cops probing if Brian Thompson’s killer used ‘veterinary’ gun commonly used...](https://nypost.com/2024/12/07/us-news/cops-probing-if-brian-thompsons-killer-used-veterinary-gun/)** > > “It’s a weapon commonly used on farms and ranches,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. A picture of the gun in question: [![](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/type-veterinary-gun-looks-somewhat-94950581.jpg?quality=75&strip=all) ](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/type-veterinary-gun-looks-somewhat-94950581.jpg?quality=75&strip=all) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/31 "2024-12-08T14:13:29Z")
Has video of the shooting been released? I’ve only seen stills, but there’s been much talk about the gun not cycling properly and having to be manually cycled between shots. The vet gun is obviously not a semi-automatic so something doesn’t add up there. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/32 "2024-12-08T14:24:16Z")
I am far from a gun expert, but I believe the gun did not jam, but since it is not a full-automatic, has to have the bolt pulled from the rear after a shot, rotated about a 1/4 turn, then pushed back in place to be ready to fire. At first glance, that might look like a jam-clearing action, but probably isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/33 "2024-12-08T14:46:10Z")
I don’t believe the vet gun has a magazine, it’s a single shot. I don’t know what the bolt looks like but you can see from the photo above that it’s not a pull back action like a semi auto. I’m assuming the NYPD isn’t dumb but this new information doesn’t make sense to me given the previous reporting. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/34 "2024-12-08T14:51:08Z")
[Here’s a gif, I guess that could look like he’s manually clearing a jam. He’d have to load the rounds 1 at a time.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/guns/comments/5qtupa/bt_veterinary_pistol_vp9_firing_ejection_and_db/&ved=2ahUKEwjXyOfLtZiKAxUKpIkEHeyeBwQQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3asgkA0W7oaRTEhtQu4WsC) ---
**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 8, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/35 "2024-12-08T15:39:32Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > The handgun has been identified as a Veterinary Pistol, used to put down farm animals. > [@Musicat](#): > > I am far from a gun expert, but I believe the gun did not jam, but since it is not a full-automatic, has to have the bolt pulled from the rear after a shot, rotated about a 1/4 turn, then pushed back in place to be ready to fire. At first glance, that might look like a jam-clearing action, but probably isn’t. > [@steronz](#): > > Here’s a gif, I guess that could look like he’s manually clearing a jam. He’d have to load the rounds 1 at a time. [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.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-2024-12-04/1011159/365) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/36 "2024-12-08T15:52:12Z")
I don’t understand what evidence leads you to say this so confidently. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/37 "2024-12-08T16:32:42Z")
Some evidence that the pictures are the same person lies in the fact that no one has come forward or been identified in the flirting picture. If it were a different person, the innocent person would have likely come forward or been identified by now as ‘not a lead’ ---
**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 8, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/38 "2024-12-08T16:59:24Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I don’t understand what evidence leads you to say this so confidently. Because I can see from the surveillance video that this [is not a B&T Station SIX-9/VP9, a Welrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-2024-12-04/1011159/300), or a Bell Gun (an actual veterinarian “humane killer”), and because while I have not fired any of those weapons (although I’ve handled and cycled a VP9), I have fired hundreds of semi-automatic short recoil action pistols, and what the shooter is doing is quite evidently clearing a failure to return to battery with a standard tap-rack-bang drill; hence, why it is reported that there were found three fired cases and three unfired cartridges, as with every failure the shooter manually cycled the slide, ejecting a partially chambered but unfired cartridge. The action on a V&T SS9 or VP9 involves twisting the bolt open by clutching a knurled knob at the back of the gun, rotating the gun upside down to cause the cartridge to fall out of the chamber (because there is no ejector), and then rotating the bolt back to pick up another cartridge from the magazine, as shown in the videos in the post linked above. A ‘Bell Gun’ (actually numerous types) is a single shot pistol that has to be partially disassembled to eject the spent case and load a new cartridge. In this case, it is quite clear that the shooter is using a standard striker-fired pistol (I would guess a Glock or Springfield XD because they are ubiquitous and easy to find threaded barrels to take a suppressor but the video is too grainy identification) with what is likely either a homemade or cheap suppressor that was not correctly fitted to the gun (did not install a stiffer recoil spring or it is interfering with the slide upon return to battery), causing the gun to repeatedly malfunction. You can see a puff of smoke coming up from the open ejection port while the gun is cycling, which would not happen with the manual bolt action of a VP9/SS9 or a Welrod, and these guns are likely too expensive and exotic for a shooter to easily procure (particularly the WWII-era Welrod, which was never imported to the United States in quantity and is a highly sought after collector’s item). It is also clear that while the shooter knows basic firearm use and how to clear a failure, they are not some kind of highly trained “professional assassin” (a breed of expert criminal which, outside of state-sponsored covert action and terrorism, exists almost exclusively in the minds of screenwriters because the economics of that vocation don’t really favor it) because someone who knew what they were doing would have gotten much closer, put the rounds into the back of the head, and would likely have used a smaller caliber weapon like a .32 ACP or even a .22 LR, which require a much smaller suppressor and are plenty lethal at near contact range. Any time you hear anything about the details of a firearm or its use in the media you should discount it as false or at least mangled until verified by someone who is actually familiar with firearms because the vast majority of journalists know virtually nothing about firearms and just repeat what they heard someone else say even if it is obviously wrong. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/39 "2024-12-08T17:11:56Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Has video of the shooting been released? I’ve only seen stills, but there’s been much talk about the gun not cycling properly and having to be manually cycled between shots. The vet gun is obviously not a semi-automatic so something doesn’t add up there. The video is very easy to find on txitter using common sense search words. No doubt it’s many other places on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312/40 "2024-12-08T17:34:32Z")
Can someone just link to it? Can we stop being children about “graphic content?” I refuse to sign up for Twitter and a standard Google search returns pages of news stories that don’t show the video. Without seeing it for myself I’m left to believe, based on one man’s confidence, that an investigative organization that deals _daily_ with murders using cheap semi-automatic pistols has made a blunder noticeable to _anyone_ who’s fired a semi-automatic pistol before. Which includes literally every member of said organization. Heck, even after the seeing the video, if I do, that’s a hard position to take. Do you share Stranger’s confidence that the NYPD is a bunch of drooling morons? I’d also like to see a news story that mentions the 3 unfired rounds. I’ve read about the shell casings but I’ve only learned about the supposed rounds from comments and I’m not convinced that internet randos understand how ammunition works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-police-think-those-two-photos-are-the-same-person-thompson-murder/1011312.md?page=3)