7mo ago

NYPD releases unmasked photo of smiling suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing

www.independent.co.uk

Summary

The NYPD released unmasked photos of the suspect in the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 4.

Surveillance footage traced the suspect’s movements before and after the crime, including his escape on an e-bike.

Investigators uncovered cryptic words on shell casings at the scene and recovered items possibly containing DNA evidence.

Authorities are using facial recognition and offering a $10,000 reward for tips. NYC Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the attack was premeditated and involved a silencer. Motive remains unknown.

244 comments

As the NYPD scrambled to find the killer, police deployed a swathe of investigators – uniformed and plain clothed – dogs, drones and helicopters in the hunt for the assailant, according to The Times.
In 2023 there were 391 murders in NYC. For the police to deploy that amount of resources for this one murder kinda proves that the police work for the rich.
- i suspect that the intense response from the authorities proves how much of a priority this is for our gov't and i hope that this becomes a trend on the rich.
  
  Imagine hearing about something like this every few days instead of school shootings? Man...
  
  Commit murder in NYC and I suspect the NYPD to be just as active especially when there's video.
- This isn't just a murder, it's potentially a statement about how the people who seem to be untouchable in the current social order are very very touchable. If that statement stands, it endangers the social order itself.
  Propaganda of the deed (or propaganda by the deed, from the French propagande par le fait) is specific political direct action meant to be exemplary to others and serve as a catalyst for revolution.
  It is primarily associated with acts of violence perpetrated by proponents of insurrectionary anarchism in the late 19th and early 20th century, including bombings and assassinations aimed at the state, the ruling class in a spirit of anti-capitalism, and church arsons targeting religious groups, even though propaganda of the deed also had non-violent applications. These acts of terrorism were intended to ignite a "spirit of revolt" by demonstrating the state, the middle and upper classes, and religious organizations were not omnipotent as well as to provoke the State to become escalatingly repressive in its response.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_of_the_deed
- Yeah I feel like this is another thing that is fully normalized - the cops are there to protect wealth. Just like how the health care industry's practices have been normalized.
- True, but it wasn't like we didn't know. It's just the hypocrisy of the police and the media doing their thing.
- They're going to be pretty keen to find and make an example out of a person that did something bad to someone of worth. Can't let that stand unanswered, or Adams will lose donors.
  
  Being wealthy and being a "person of worth" are almost mutually exclusive nowadays.
- Supposedly the shell casings have words engraved on them. Deny Defend Depose.
  
  So random, those words could mean anything! Clearly we will never know the motive!
- Wow it peaked around 5 murders per day in 1990.
If you saw this guy, you did not see this guy
- I kinda get that vibe from the police too. Just $10,000? Don't try too hard there, now.
  I was denied emergency life saving medication by my insurance (not united iir) and ended up in the hospital the next day for a week. Billed an average $15,000 a day each day.
  After the bills came in, it was apparent someone/algorithm put me in the hospital to bill the most money for profit. It was a nasty trick.
  Anyways, $10,000 seems like chump change to them. More of a "well, we tried" bounty.
  
  I know someone who lost their dad to medical issues. Their dad's insurance is asking them for $200k
  When my eye condition was rapidly degenerating, insurance denied me the only procedure that could slow it down. Now my eyesight is absolute trash and the only reason I can even see is because I use $1000/lens glass lenses the size of a nickel
  The deductible for my sympathy hasn't been met
  
  If anyone has information that could lead the the arrest of this suspect, then I have $10,001 that says no, they don’t.
  
  Health insurance denials and other insurance BS transcend through the entire 99%, even cops.
- If they unfortunately find him, jury selection is gonna be super interesting. I would let that guy go with a handshake and a good job.
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
  
  like with the rittenhouse case; they're going to find a judge & jury sympathetic enough to the rich to make a conviction happen.
  they did it with obamacare and they can do it with an assassin.
  
  Seriously. Imagine the state prosecutor trying to weed out that jury pool.
  Even if a potential juror doesn’t mouth off online, there is a massive list of names that UHC has fucked over directly, let alone people with ill feelings toward health insurance in general.
- what guy? all i saw was a woman with pink hair and a nose ring.
  
  I just saw the ceo die from magic bullets. No people at all.
  
  Bruh don't fucking lie. It was a 5'4" gremlin looking woman with green hair.
- Yes Sgt Shultz…. I zaw nothink!!!
Pretty sure that’s Donald Trump—he even discussed his plan to shoot a man on 5th Avenue.
- This was on Sixth, though. Totally different.
  
  Would you trust someone of his limited faculties to tell the difference?
  
  New term, new street
  
  Lol "Shit... I thought that sign board read 6th... not 5th. I wonder who I shot?"
  
  Getting the street wrong is how we know it was him.
Motive remains unknown
Lol
- Every god damned person that's seen the headline knows exactly what the motive was, but sure, it's biiiiiig mystery.
Remember kids, if you see the guy who shot and killed the UCH CEO with named bullets: no you didn't.
- This is the exact opposite of the Reddit Boston Bomber fiasco. What man? I only see a picture of an empty sidewalk
Oh shit, he's hot...
I kinda hate it when someone is this cool and this good looking. Save some positive qualities for the rest of us!
- I'm a gay woman, but my god is this man fuckable
  
  I'm a straight man, but that guy can assassinate my loins any time.
- Immediate thought was "would smash"
The guy in those photos has a different color coat and a different backpack... what makes the NYPD think they're the shooter? Is there only one guy in NYC that wears a coat and backpack in checks notes December?
- Exactly, the one on the right isn't even the shooter. It's jake gyllenhaal trying to get photographs of the scene
  
  Nightcrawler was more than just method acting then.
- If you look at the background, you’ll see the white balance of the photo is different. It’s the same coat, the photo is just tinted differently.
  
  They’re not talking about the two unmasked photos in the article. If you look at the photos of the masked shooter, he had a different backpack (white/beige instead of black) and a different hoodie(no chest pockets).
- In the article: "It is not clear whether the photographs shared on X on the suspect are the same as those mentioned in CNN’s report.". They're literally making shit up.
That man and/or woman was with me all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
- And/or...
- While I hope he's never caught or arrested, if he does end up being charged, I suspect there will be a lot of donations to his legal defense fund.
- man and/or woman
  What a weird way to say person. Lol
  
  I'm just saying they were both here. We played Smash Bros. and stayed up late watching movies. Can you believe they'd never seen They Live?
The gunman’s motive, however, still remains a mystery.
Radiating "Historian saying they were roommates" energy.
- “Defy, Defend, Depose”
  Hmm very criptic
  
  They are trying so hard to make it look like another "confused mentally ill crazy guy" and not like the rational composed individual with a clear message that he obviously is.
The suspect was wearing masks. This man is not wearing any masks and has a great smile. Clearly not the same person.
$10,000? I can't even cover my health insurance with that
- Wasn't the ceo's yearly salary like $10 mil or something? Lol
  
  I lost my cat...$500 reward....this guy is basically worth like 20 cats.
Guys, I have a theory.
- As if I needed another reason to be a fan of John Bernthal.
  
  Appears to be wearing a tiny bra
- Reminds me more of the dude from Watch Dogs
  
  I dunno man Aiden's face was always blurry when I looked at it through a camera lens.
Snitches get stitches, sorry NYPD
- And since you'll have to fight to get those stitches covered by insurance ...
I have never seen this person in my life, or anyone who looks similar.
Sorry, can't help.
Doesn't look like anything to me
New agencies and police are wrong for sharing this guys picture, the suspects coat and this guys coat are completely different from the front. These assholes are going to get an innocent and unrelated person assaulted.
- I'm calling bullshit that the pictures they've released so far are even the same man. The builds are different, the noses are different, the skin tone is different, the jacket is different, the backpack is different, nothing in this is the same other than its a 5'10"-6' tall man with a fucking jacket. The NYPD are dropping the ball because someone at the department hates Healthcare CEO's too.
  
  I'm sure they're going to arrest someone for this. Who knows who, but someone.
- Who’s going to assault him? The guy’s a champion of the working class.
  
  The thugs with badges. He's making them look bad
  
  Thank god the working class are the only ones looking for him! Wait...
- In the article: "It is not clear whether the photographs shared on X on the suspect are the same as those mentioned in CNN’s report.". They're literally making shit up.
- They have possible DNA sources from a burner phone and water bottle dropped in an ally, hopefully that prevents false accusations. And honestly I don't see anyone attacking this guy. Murder is bad, but a lot of people have lost loved ones and life savings over healthcare coverage.
Quite frankly I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. Actually I suspect there will be copycats and this will start to happen more often.
- Seems like it may be a workable patch for this timeline?
  
  Only if it starts to dissuade their awful behavior. Which it likely won't.
- Oh no.
  Anyway...
Hey, white dudes: I know we got beef and that ain't gonna go away any time soon. But you have one job and one job only.
Go buy a black turtleneck and a jacket with a green hood and wear that for the next week or two.
- No beef to be seen...what are you talking about.
- We going full V for Vendetta? Are we finally fucking doing this?!
  
  I was thinking the Watchmen but V for vendetta was also good
- -- and swarm all over manhattan and the greater new york metro for as long as you can; use makeup to make yourself look more like him.
- Hey, white dudes: I know we got beef and that ain't gonna go away any time soon.
  What the fuck
  
  Racism, it seems.
Stay safe, King.
Doesn't look like anything to me.
The man in the photograph looks exactly like the CEO of Elevance Health.
- Isn't the CEO of Elevance Health like an older woman?
  
  Officer, the resemblance was uncanny. It was absolutely her.
  
  Woah woah, did you just assume their gender?
Oh shit, I know them! This is BriBri's killer:
Throw the book at her, your honor! (tip for the NYPD, she's hiding out in the executive suite of the Bluecross HQ until the heat is off)
That's Timothee Chalamet. Or one of his lookalikes.
That's why the lookalike contest was organized and publicized. We now know there are dozens of other people in New York City that look like him, so is it really beyond a shadow of a doubt that you identified the right person? The guy in the photo might even be a decoy.
- Positive it's Shia LaBeouf. Let's kill 2 birds with one stone.
  
  He does it all the time. This is just a normal Tuesday night for Shia LaBeouf.
What suspect? I thought they ruled the bullet wounds were a pre-existing condition and no police coverage is warranted.
- NYPD is out of network.
Babe, new meme dropped: Ridiculously photogenic assassin!
I wonder if there's a Mrs. United Health Care CEO Killer.
- twirls hair around finger
Haven't seen them.
I don't see anyone in these pictures. Did they accidentally post the wrong ones?
- ....
  Nah, John Cena wouldn't be THAT cool. Would he?
  
  He would not
They were with me. The whole day. And, they’re the gentlest person in the universe. Have never even seen a gun in real life.
"Motive remains unknown." Lol
- Where's this from?
  
  Westworld
The real icing on the cake would be if he has a terminal illness that got worse, because united healthcare refused to cover some preventative treatment. That would be a real smear on the company.
- This guy was gonna die anyway so he did the world a favor. I like it.
I'm not even being funny, the build of the chin in particular makes these look like 2 similar but different people to me.
- It is, the police are trying to save face by finding someone dumb and innocent to scapegoat into "he was totally resisting arrest". They're going to murder someone, call it him, and promise that anyone else attacking the rich will meet the same end.
  
  I feel like you're right. Eventually they'll find someone to scapegoat, either murder them in custody or railroad them into life in prison, and wash their hands of the whole thing because the aristocrat class wants SOMETHING done about this.
Noses are literally so different holy balls
- Lol Is this going to be the Boston Bomber situation but the cop doing it instead of reddit?
  
  It's the NYPD, they don't care who actually did it, they just want to pin it on someone. Corrupt bastards, even by pig standards.
- In the article: "It is not clear whether the photographs shared on X on the suspect are the same as those mentioned in CNN’s report.". They're literally making shit up.
- Different color backpack and completely different topwear. Billions of dollars spent on cops who would fail a kindergarten "spot the difference" test.
It’s this smooth operator:
- I did not expect to see Carlos Sainz in this thread!
  
  Me seeing Sainz appearing in the wild
About 49 million other people are smiling too.
This article is written so hastily... it is absolutely riddled with spelling mistakes. At least run it through a spell checker, sheesh.
- This is one of the few things ChatGPT is actually good at too. sheesh
  
  Honestly, I feel a bit relieved to see there are still people behind these articles. There's something about mistakes that just makes it human.
- They were in a hurry to get the message out to everyone "the motive remains unknown." They knew we would be looking to them for guidance on why anyone would kill a filthy rich healthcare CEO notorious for denying care to people. They couldn't leave us hanging over a few simple spelling errors.
- Authors are former a wall street journal and a NY style section meme article writer... "what ever happened to the "I like corn" kid?"
  Makes sense that it's both apologetic trash giving cover for capitalism and an overall shit product from a basic journalism perspective.
So they put up the confirmed fake photos, and include a small paragraph to protect themselves, "It is not clear whether the photographs shared on X on the suspect are the same as those mentioned in CNN’s report.". I wonder if flooding the internet with photos is a soft attempt at protecting his identity. Remember to call in any time to the help line. I think I just saw him digging through my neighbors garbage, or it may have been a racoon.
Hopefully they are never found
- If they are ever found, I'll know who to send a thank you card with money for the legal defense fund.
  
  Can you imagine the GoFundMe? Can you imagine how much that would terrify the wealthy?
  
  It was a great early Xmas present for sure.
- Not before they are done, at least.
  
  👍
If the expensive clothes post is correct and the hostel photos aren't just a random distraction because they can't find any leads on the actual shooter, why isn't the NYPD look into whether Josh Heuston (from Dune: Prophecy) has an alibi or not?
At this point it seems to be that they are doing their best in finding this guy because we love him.
Pretty sure I seen him in Zihuatanejo. Police should start there.
- Love that movie
Someone please Photoshop a batman mask on him
- It's maddening!
- This is insanely ironic considering he'd more be like the guy that shot Batman's parents. And Batman, famously, tries to not kill. And Batman is lavishly wealthy.
- I'm now imagining an ominous Vine boom everytime the shooter interacted with someone that day.
So the suspect is a video game Anyman protagonist. That oughta narrow it down.
- Right? I'm just sitting here thinking "it's Alex Mercer"
  
  Jesus that was a blast from the past. Damn good game. Wonder if they'll ever remaster it? Oh shit, right, CEO died...uhhh....yeah I got nothin.
  
  I was thinking Kessler from inFamous.
He escaped on an e-bike? Where were the police mounted on horses to chase after him?
- Last I read that claimed was confirmed as untrue. City Bike said it wasn’t one of theirs.
  
  I kind of just assumed it was his own.
Handsome assassin doing the non-existent Lord's work.
- Yeah wait doesn't he look like the really good looking guy meme?
  
  Ridiculously photogenic assassin
Idk if it’s just me but that does not look like the same person from the shooting video. The coats are different the bags are different
What a handsome hero.
All I see is a scene from the hit movie Dune 2 starring timothee chalamet. Crime investigation? What crime?
- LISAN AL GHAIB
I think I found him
- Nah, something about the shoes doesn't fit. But defiantly pink.
Not same jacket
Never seen that person before in my life.
Jake Gyllenhaal you sly bastard.
Oh no! He's hot!
Oh shit, that looks like my friend Tom who lives in Amarillo.
Oh I recognize that guy, that's Attaboy Goodman!
Storm troopers will definitely murder this charming fellow rather than expose themselves through the farce of the injustice system.
Pretty sure it's actor Max Greenfield.
That's not even the same jacket. How did his backpack change?
- You know people can take backpacks off right
  
  Why would he change backpacks 30 minutes before the killing, condescending louse.
🥵
I have never seen this man in my life. In fact, I remember never having seen him. I am positive that such a man does not, have not ever, and will not ever exist.
It is so weird that even the picture is starting to look very much unlike him.
Pretty sure I've seen this guy in a Christmas movie with Lacey Chabert, couldn't tell you which one, though
Please use this to replace the Drake meme format
"Cryptic"
How could James Franco do this!?!?
...Oh, yeah.
Okay goddamn that guy is hot.
And in the pictures, too.
So you see, that's where the trouble began. That smile. That damn smile.
Don't know nothing man
There goes my hero, watch him as he goes.
☹️
I don't see anything.
Smiling photo looks weird as if its processed by AI.

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