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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson assassinated
- Thread starter EviLore
- Start date
notseqi
Member
wasnt there A Time to Kill aswell? yeah, roundabout the sameDenzel beat us to it!
edit: a lot of racial undertones in that ofc, didnt see John Q yet
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DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
He's on borrowed time unless he has help to hide him or get him out of the country.
Sub_Level
wants to fuck an Asian grill.
idk I feel like its kinda easy to hide from the cops? Literally just crash at your friends’ place and never go outside for 6 months. You’re golden.
A lot of killings are personal, so cops can easily look up info and phone data. But presumably this is someone random with a grudge so you cant get that info readily.
rm082e
Member
That's the problem with the sort of Managerial Oligarchy we've created: We have a professional class of C-Suite execs who went to business school to become people who run businesses, not to use business to build a better world. They are not stakeholders, and they are beholden to an existing system of corporate law, which means they don't have any responsibility. They get filthy rich running businesses while taking little to no direct responsibility for the impacts those businesses have.
It's the same reason none of the bankers went to jail after the 2008 financial collapse when Americans lost huge amounts of their net worth as their homes and retirement accounts were slashed in value. It's the same reason CEOs get fired for poor performance and walk away with golden parachutes worth more than most Americans will make in their entire lifetime.
It's fine to say we need to change the law, but we've all seen the gridlock that is Washington over the last decade - they have to move mountains just to agree to pay the bills and keep the lights on. They spend their time arguing and insulting each other over grievances so petty it's created a whole ecosystem of memes. Given the state of things, we all know nothing is going to change in healthcare law unless it's pressured to change by an outside force.
I am in no way supportive of this shooters actions. I am 100% against the death penalty in all cases; even when there is indisputable evidence a person is guilty of pure evil. Along those lines, I condemn anyone engaging in street justice. At the same time, I completely understand how a person could be driven to commit murder given everything I just said above. I also have to admit an act like this could serve as the outside force that applies pressure to law makers to change the law (although I doubt it will).
The sad truth is, sometimes problems don't get solved until the problem suddenly gets a lot worse and catches people's attention. Rapid escalation can be a catalyst in it's own way.
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
It's not easy at all. You can't aid and abet, it's a crime. You can go to prison. You aren't going to find many people willing to go to prison to help this guy. And there is a reward so someone will be eager to dime him out. It's possible he finds an ideologue to hide him, but someone can even dime that person out as well. It's hard to stay off the grid in 2024 with modern technology law enforcement has. And even then if he tries, one slip up and it's game over.
Sure, if they don't have a picture of your face. It's REAL hard to hide at that point. So either this guy is going back home to die of a terminal disease and couldn't care less if anyone catches him or he has a route out of the country and that's a damned tough thing to do. The cops are REALLY good at getting you if they actually give a shit to do so.
Imagine if UHC puts up a 5 million dollar bounty for this guy, bounty hunters scour the nation for him, and all you hear is that some dude was scooped up in the middle of the night by Dawg and never heard from again. Cyberpunk 2025 here we come!
It will escalate to federal jurisdiction. It is a high profile case that will be prioritized. The feds have facial recognition databases. If he ever had a driver’s license or other photo ID, even a yearbook photo, it will be matched. If he shows up at an airport or other monitored location he will be spotted. He will be actively pursued and won’t be able to use a bank account or do much of anything.
He had a small window to take a flight overseas before the hostel CCTV footage identified his face.
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
Even though most homicides are committed by someone known to the victim or had a personal beef with the victim, I do think this could be an outlier case, we'll see. Reason I think that is because of how coordinated it appears to be and the nature in which it was committed. If this was like a murder committed by someone who personally knew him, you'd think he'd target him in a more controlled environment closer to home. This seems like it was methodically planned. He covered his face in all known CCTV footage. He took a bus out of town, not a plane. Used a bike, not a car. Used a silencer. I'm guessing he paid in cash instead of a card, though I don't know if they released details on that yet. Probably used an alias in wherever he stayed I'm guessing because I think he had a fake ID. I believe he used some type of a burner phone.
Still, it's hard to commit a murder this public like this and get away with it, and he did slip up. He did get his face a bit and sometimes that's enough. They've been able to track him. I'd be surprised if they don't know his identity if they've been able to track him this far. You have to really want someone dead to go through these lengths. I hope it was not committed due to him being a CEO of UHC though because sometimes incidents like that motivate copycat killers. And wouldn't be surprised if someone else tries to take a shot at some other CEO because of it.
Still, it's hard to commit a murder this public like this and get away with it, and he did slip up. He did get his face a bit and sometimes that's enough. They've been able to track him. I'd be surprised if they don't know his identity if they've been able to track him this far. You have to really want someone dead to go through these lengths. I hope it was not committed due to him being a CEO of UHC though because sometimes incidents like that motivate copycat killers. And wouldn't be surprised if someone else tries to take a shot at some other CEO because of it.
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Go_Ly_Dow
Member
Revealing his face like he did because a girl was hitting on him makes me think he isn't a genius and I think he'll be caught.
We'll see!
SF Kosmo
Al Jazeera Special Reporter
The writing on the bullets shows a pretty clear ideological motive. Taking the time to etch in the methods that healthcare companies use to deny care is some real comic book anti-hero shit.
Personal backstory is up to the imagination but most us probably know someone who has died or gone bankrupt by the American healthcare system. It's not much of a stretch.
But obviously, yes, you have to be pretty nuts to be this committed to carrying out an assassination. These things aren't mutually exclusive. A person can be a psycho and still be motivated by some kind of relatable story or idea.
I tell you what though, if this guy goes to trial, it's gonna look like the Joker 2 trial, mobs of support.
Trilobit
Member
I sometimes wonder what I'd do if I was wanted by criminals and had to lay low for several months. It'd be cool to have an extra apartment somewhere in a slum that I rented in cash and anonymously. Having stacked up enough food and books I'd be sure to have a good routine so as to not go crazy as I probably shouldn't communicate with anyone during that time. I wonder how long it would feel exciting until you got incredibly bored.
Melon Husk
Member
He wanted to send a message to the whole industry. I just watched the video for the first time. Shot him in the back, stone cold, without hesitation. It wasn't personal. Maybe the kid was a marketing student? I assume the assassin is around 20 years old.
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SlimySnake
Flashless at the Golden Globes
Look at the manhunt for the Beltway sniper. It took them a few weeks but they caught the guy.
And that was 20 years ago. Facial Recognition tech has improved since. This guy will be caught in days. A week max.
digital_ghost
Member
I feel you. I had to pay $4,500 for a freaking flu test.
They should be legally required to tell you what they are going to charge before providing you healthcare. If they did I bet most people wouldn't go to the clinic.
Melon Husk
Member
If he took a bus to Atlanta, the simplest explanation is that the hopped on a plane that he had booked beforehand. Security might have been alerted in NY airports for a local homicide but not necessarily ATL. It's the high risk, high reward option to get away as far and as fast as possible. This guy had money, and was confident. Confident to the point of being cocky. Very few people are so confident at that age. So he had some kind of military or special forces training?
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My NYPD sources tell me their detectives think it's possible this man could be avoiding the police too!
FullMetalx117
Member
I mean the tech is there now to remain anonymous too. May have an entire group in the background helping him out, anon style.
Getting the sense a lot of the public may look the other way too. Hell, even some cops might just look the other way.
Getting the sense a lot of the public may look the other way too. Hell, even some cops might just look the other way.
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
I'm not an expert, nor do I have great insight, but in the UK it's not unheard of for local scientists to announce significant breakthroughs in medicine.
I'm not sure if you've been misled about how much health research and development goes on in other countries, or if I've misunderstood which types of R&D you're talking about, but I don't think it's correct that the world sits back and waits for the US to find new treatments and diagnostic tools, which once they're researched will be sold around the world cheaply, once American citizens have paid for the development.
Here's an article about 5 breakthroughs that came out of the UK in a 12 month period - first thing that came up on Google.
Health breakthroughs | NIHR | Be Part of Research
I'm sure that you could find similar for other non-US countries.
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near
Gold Member
We're up there. But the US is a global leader when it comes to advancements in medicine and health care.I'm not an expert, nor do I have great insight, but in the UK it's not unheard of for local scientists to announce significant breakthroughs in medicine.
I'm not sure if you've been misled about how much health research and development goes on in other countries, or if I've misunderstood which types of R&D you're talking about, but I don't think it's correct that the world sits back and waits for the US to find new treatments and diagnostic tools, which once they're researched will be sold around the world cheaply, once American citizens have paid for the development.
Here's an article about 5 breakthroughs that came out of the UK in a 12 month period - first thing that came up on Google.
Health breakthroughs | NIHR | Be Part of Research
bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk
I'm sure that you could find similar for other non-US countries.
SF Kosmo
Al Jazeera Special Reporter
I think they were saying he rode up on a Greyhound FROM Atlanta. They don't really know where he is now but I read they think he has left New York.
I agree he probably has some resources. He was talking to someone on his burner right before so he could have been a hired hand or had some kind of support. The shooting itself wasn't super professional but he was highly organized, so you never know.
I
ts like a 12 hour+ drive to Atlanta at best, he ain't doing that. Flew out of Boston or DC if that was his plan.
Shits_McGiggles
Member
The reward is only $10,000 before taxes, and people are a lot more supportive of the killer than the CEO of a notoriously hated company in one of the most notoriously hated industries.
I’m not expecting people to aid the killer, but I am expecting a shocking number of people willing to look the other way.
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True.
It’s worth mentioning that our administrative costs are astronomical, which doesn’t provide real benefit to patients or to r&d of new medical technologies.
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
We'll see. It might seem that way if you browse social media, but I think most people will find murder vile and be very eager to turn him in. Most people are not the loons you see on social media.
The Pleasure
Member
If nobody saw tupac killed on the strip, nobody saw the ceos assassin go back to his flippedy floppity floo.
near
Gold Member
Damn. That's a lot compared to the average. That's more than the first 7 nations combined on that list WTF.True.
It’s worth mentioning that our administrative costs are astronomical, which doesn’t provide real benefit to patients or to r&d of new medical technologies.
Rawbutt Jellybean
Member
This guy made 10m per year denying claims. Most people are at best indifferent but definitely don't find it "vile" that some rich asshole got owned by karma.
near
Gold Member
He might've been a rich asshole, but even assholes don't deserve to be killed especially when having committed no crimes. If the majority opinion is indifferent and some are even satisfied with he's murder, then society has entered a very dark phase.
RJMacready73
Simps for Amouranth
Everyone outside the US thinks your healthcare system fucking sucks balls, the last place I wanna get sick is in the states, sure you may have great hospitals and doctors but when I'm ill the last thing I need to think about is "how much shit will this cost and will my insurance cover it" all I wanna think about is "they better fucking fix me" and that cunt who got shot is the reason why your healthcare system is so fucked, so hahaha at the cunt, hope he died in pain like the millions his company put through via claim denials.
I always wondered why shooters in the US went and shot up schools like the evil pricks they are and instead didn't walk into medical Insurance companies and go shoot up the executive floor, you get your kill count and will probably get taken out by security/police but you'll be remembered a legend instead of some lonely incel fuck
I always wondered why shooters in the US went and shot up schools like the evil pricks they are and instead didn't walk into medical Insurance companies and go shoot up the executive floor, you get your kill count and will probably get taken out by security/police but you'll be remembered a legend instead of some lonely incel fuck
SF Kosmo
Al Jazeera Special Reporter
People who urgently need medical care also don't deserve to be killed, but this man made his business by ensuring he could do that to the maximum number of people possible.
Now, I don't subscribe to a retributive concept of justice personally, but if you do, like most people in this country, you do, then it's not hard to frame this just.
Being rich is not the point. Had he done his job for free he would be no better.
Bruh, you're just noticing now? Everything has been fucked for a while now. Faith in institutions is at an all time low. No one believes that laws are fairly applied (or even written) to hold the elites to account, no one believes there's any way to fix the system. These are the circumstances that lead to violence, political extremism...
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Rawbutt Jellybean
Member
At no point in history would people have felt any different about some guy profiting so much off misery getting murked.
Not going to pop champagne over it but I definitely don't feel bad for him at all.
near
Gold Member
Having your health insurance denied is not equivalent to shooting someone dead. He wasn’t responsible for implementing the countries health care system, he just exploited it, if not him, someone else.
Regardless, violence is not how you settle disputes. Being very lax on situations like Brian Thompson's assassination is how you end up regressing society.
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ap_puff
Banned
I want to know how many here expressing sympathy
The "rule of law" only has binding power because it's based on the consent of the governed.
But the consent of the governed isn't a fact in modern america:
discovery.princeton.edu
Our laws are written by the same people who make money off death and destruction of the American public and the world at large. America is fully cooked and I really don't think most people have realized it consciously yet.
The "rule of law" only has binding power because it's based on the consent of the governed.
But the consent of the governed isn't a fact in modern america:
Study casts doubt on fairness of U.S. democracy
AFFLUENT INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS CORPORATIONS have vastly more influence on federal government policy than average citizens, according to research by Princeton University and Northwestern Universi…
discovery.princeton.edu
America has problems, like anywhere. The problems are surmountable without regressing into murderous chaos.
Spooky Scary Skeleton
Member
Lead poisoning. Claim denied.
ap_puff
Banned
I believe our nation's founding fathers would have disagreed, having tarred and feathered tax collectors over a modest tax despite living under very lenient tax conditions at the time.
*Edit* shower thought: the callout to "murderous chaos" is especially poignant as america's current health insurance scheme is exactly that.
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Meicyn
Gold Member
They’re surmountable, but my concern is that the folks who have the power to make systemic changes won’t do so, because the bulk of the money they need for reelection comes from the very folks who benefit from maintaining the status quo.
I mean, we have children being gunned down in schools, and this nation has thus far collectively done nothing to stop it. Healthcare is broken, housing prices are out of control, food costs are way above the rate of inflation, and wages haven’t kept pace. It isn’t any wonder the average joe couldn’t give a shit about a single CEO getting gunned down.
Radical_3d
Member
It’s not only in America. The feeling that the system is made by and for the elite and that they don’t hold accountable of their deeds is well spread in all the West. Is indeed a dark phase of the society, but not some that the people created. The circumstances and calamities always point to the same few people and how the system is tailor made by the politics, that always act as their tools (when they are supposed to be people’s tools to mend the system a little). Traditional forms of expressing unrest has been prove ineffective. Mass manifestations are ignored and their more violent component only damages the poor people’s belongings. Maybe some people are just tired to wait for the situation to somehow get better itself. Maybe this is the start of our little French Revolution, version XXI’s century. Where I live autumn has been stolen by petrol companies. That’s some Grimm’s tales tier fucked up to have. And in those stories it never ends well for the villain if caught.I want to know how many here expressing sympathy
Our laws are written by the same people who make money off death and destruction of the American public and the world at large. America is fully cooked and I really don't think most people have realized it consciously yet.
The "rule of law" only has binding power because it's based on the consent of the governed.
But the consent of the governed isn't a fact in modern america:
Study casts doubt on fairness of U.S. democracy
AFFLUENT INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS CORPORATIONS have vastly more influence on federal government policy than average citizens, according to research by Princeton University and Northwestern Universi…
Don't listen to the critics, they're just haters, we're doing everything right and America needs us!
Scary_Larry
Member
They’re eating the CEO’s, they’re eating the lead.
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
I think the majority of people find all forms of murder vile. Morality is largely subjective and if we normalize murder being a tolerable action for one thing, then it will eventually start happening with actions that you don't find wrong.
Like somebody gunning down a CEO of an online retailer because he thought the company charged too much for shipping. Or someone blowing the brains out of an bar owner because they think they charge too much for beer. Everyone thinks their own version of morality is the right one, and if they believe that, and people think it's just to start killing in the name of morality then you can see where it could lead.
And there are also a lot of uninformed people out there too. It hasn't even been 3 days yet and everyone thinks they know what this guy did and who he was. Just yesterday people were freaking out about a news item about BCBS changing their policy on anesthesia which had people freaking out and calling them greedy too. Turns out it was pretty justified and done to counter fraud and bring down premium rates. But everyone freaked out and they reversed course, so congrats on that one I guess.
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