Summary

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a premeditated attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown before speaking at an investor conference.

The gunman, still at large, fired multiple times, leaving shell casings marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”

Authorities suggest Thompson was targeted but remain unclear on the motive. His wife confirmed prior threats against him.

Analysts speculate a possible vendetta tied to his company. The case raises questions about executive security, as Thompson lacked personal protection despite known risks.

  • Flying Squid
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    167 months ago

    Are you really suggesting that only possible realistic motive to murder him is because of his position at UHC?

    I can think of so many plausible scenarios. I just gave you one, here’s another: he was cheating on his wife, so she paid to have him killed, something that actually happens in the real world and doesn’t involved time travelers.

    I’m sure you would like this to be a just world where bad people get killed for good reasons, but that’s not how the world works. Hitler’s generals tried to assassinate him and it wasn’t because they thought he was being too mean to the Jews.

    • @rumba@lemmy.zip
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      7 months ago

      Are you really suggesting

      nope, just toying around with the concept, figured it would be about 3/5 on the joke scale.

      edit: Though if you really wanted to get into it, the words scribed on the casings might direct you to a likely solution. *

      • Flying Squid
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        47 months ago

        Or the words on the casings are intended to direct you to the wrong solution. Because, again in the real world, people who commit premeditated crimes throw police off the scent intentionally.

        • @rumba@lemmy.zip
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          147 months ago

          Ehh, I think Occam would have the better of that here.

          In any case. (no pun intended) Maybe they’ll spend a few minutes reflecting on the own mortality while they’re ripping us off thinking there’s no recourse.

        • sepi
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          127 months ago

          Ah yes. “The murderer must be playing 5d chess to fool people” angle. It’s an angle, but not a reasonable one. How much Scooby Doo have you watched?

    • Lightor
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      117 months ago

      Possible vs Probable.

      Lots of things are possible, sure, but his position and impact on people due to his position does make one very probable.

      • Flying Squid
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        27 months ago

        I am guessing you do not know enough about him personally to know what is the most probable. Maybe he very openly cheats on his wife. That would make his wife hiring a hit man very probable. Maybe he’s swindled someone out of a ton of money on a personal level rather than via UHC. Again, that would make a good motive to kill him.

        We do not have enough information here and pretending we do is not very wise.

        • Lightor
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          27 months ago

          True, it’s possible he has numerous enemies.

          But what I can say is the average person doesn’t have people wanting to kill them. If all things are equal, and given the message written on the casings, there seems to be one that is currently the most probable.