Unraveling the Mystery of a Premeditated Attack

Details of the Killing

The gunman was well-informed about Thompson's movements. He knew when his victim was likely to arrive at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel and which entrance he would use. Surveillance footage captured the gunman outside the hotel at about 6.30 am, wearing a dark hooded jacket and a black mask and carrying a grey backpack as he made a phone call. Thompson was seen in a blue suit walking up to a hotel door about 15 minutes later. The gunman then stepped from behind a car and fired at least twice, hitting Thompson in the calf and the back. Thompson briefly continued walking before collapsing.

Despite being proficient in firearms, the gunman swiftly cleared the firing mechanism when it jammed and unleashed another bullet. He then walked up to Thompson as he lay slumped against a wall and raised his gun but did not fire again. After that, he crossed the road and ran into an alleyway, passing the Ziegfeld Ballroom and onto West 55th Street. There, he jumped onto an electric bike and headed into Central Park, where he dumped the backpack.

Potential Clues and Red Herrings

The police rapidly uncovered a series of potential clues. They found a cellphone in the passageway the gunman fled along and video footage of the killer in a Starbucks close to the hotel shortly before the shooting. Detectives were following a lead with a Connecticut gun dealer who sold a weapon resembling the one used in the killing. However, there were also red herrings. Initial police claims that the killer had used an electric Citi Bike were later backed off, and the focus shifted to an unmarked electric bike.

One of the most significant finds was surveillance footage of the gunman at a hostel after he pulled his mask down. This led to the possibility that he will be recognized or identified by facial recognition technology. On Friday, officials said investigators had also found DNA evidence that has been sent for testing.

Motive and Public Anger

There was less information about the killer's motives, but it did not stop a flood of conjecture. Thompson's wife, Paulette, fueled speculation that he had been shot by someone with a grudge against UnitedHealthcare. Public anger at UnitedHealthcare was not a secret. Protesters from across the country rallied outside the company's headquarters in Minnesota over its refusal to pay about one-third of claims. Regulators and politicians have accused the company of boosting profits by systematically rejecting care.

A woman on TikTok shared her experience with UnitedHealthcare when her child needed emergency surgery. UnitedHealthcare refused to approve the transfer, causing her to feel helpless. Others quoted Woody Guthrie, highlighting the power of different entities to rob people. The backlash came not only from patients but also from doctors who recounted UnitedHealth refusing to pay for a child with cancer.

The health insurance industry's greed has been a topic of discussion. Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton have described it as a "Sheriff of Nottingham redistribution," fleecing ordinary Americans to give to rich corporations. As the industry has grown more rapacious, insurance premiums have surged, and patients have been required to make larger out-of-pocket payments.