A frenzy of online detective work usually follows if a killer is on the loose but there’s an unusual silence in Brian Thompson’s case
Brian Thompson was assassinated in cold blood while walking the streets of New York. A case of this manner would usually garner support for cops in the form of some online detective work.
The UnitedHealthcare CEO was fatally shot three times from behind outside of the Hilton Hotel on Wednesday (December 4) at 6.46am in Manhattan, New York City – and the gunman remains at large.
Brian Thompson was just 50-years-old when he was gunned down on December 4 (UnitedHealth Group)
The father-of-two was walking to an insurance conference hosted by his company when he was targeted by his killer, who was ‘lying in wait’ for around five minutes, the New York Police Department confirmed.
The 50-year-old’s assassin has since left breadcrumbs for the FBI of his movements prior to the attack as well as after it – including dumping a bag in Central Park with monopoly money and a jacket inside it.
Those breadcrumbs would usually entice internet sleuths to weigh in on the suspect’s whereabouts, but that just isn’t happening in this case.
Speaking about it per NBC News, assistant professor of computer science at Swarthmore College, Sukrit Venkatagiri explained why he believed there were fewer detectives on the hunt for Thompson’s alleged murderer.
“They don’t really empathize with who the victim is in this scenario,” he said.
“People are less motivated, from an altruistic perspective, to help this victim in this specific case.”
He suggested that the common folk found it difficult to resonate with a top official who was reportedly on a salary of $10 million.
While TikToker thatdanesguy, who has amassed two million followers on the social media platform for his internet detective work in helping to find people who have been racist online, amongst other things, explained his reasoning for opting out of working on the case.
In a three-minute video, he explained how UnitedHealthcare – which Thompson ran – denied just under a third of every claim made.
The suspect looks directly at a camera while speaking to a cab driver following the murder of Brian Thompson (DCPI)
Adding: “I don’t have to encourage violence. I don’t have to condone violence by any means. But I also don’t have to help.”
Despite the rare silence from TikTokers on the case, a bounty has been placed on the killer’s head, with police stating any information leading to an arrest will result in a reward of $10,000.
Meanwhile, more information has now come out regarding the alleged murder weapon, which is believed to be a veterinarian gun typically used to put down farm animals.
It requires a reload after every single shot – which is what can be seen in the video of the murder.
Featured Image Credit: DCPI/@thatdaneshguy/Tiktok
