12/6/2024 -- UHC CEO Murderer Still At Large

Crime

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Murdered In What Authorities Believe Was A Targeted Attack

The Summary: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel on Wednesday in what police call a targeted attack. Thompson was on his way to the UHG investor conference. The suspect fled on an e-bike and remains at large.

Who Was Brian Thompson: Brian Thompson was the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare. As a long-time executive with UHG since 2004, Thompson had risen through the corporate ranks before becoming CEO in April 2021. Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette, and their two children.

Here’s What We’ve Learned Since The Crime.

Suspect Details: The NYPD is pursuing a suspect believed to have arrived from Atlanta. Surveillance footage shows the gunman wearing a light-colored jacket, black face mask, and distinctive gray backpack. He used a fake New Jersey license to check into a local hostel.

Evidence and Investigation: Key evidence includes shell casings inscribed with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose,” a cellphone, water bottle, and candy wrapper found along the escape route. Investigators suspect the use of a B&T Station Six pistol with a silencer.

Escape Route: After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into an alley before escaping on an e-bike, last seen riding into Central Park shortly after the incident. Investigators believe he may have prepositioned the e-bike for a quick getaway.

Motive: While the exact motive remains unclear, the attack is described as premeditated and targeted. Investigators are exploring both personal and professional angles related to Thompson's role in the healthcare industry.

Bomb Threats: Since the murder, Thompson’s family have faced multiple bomb threats at their Maple Grove home.

Reactions To The Crime

Brian Thompson’s Wife

UnitedHealth Group official statement.

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Governor Tim Walz

Politics

Minneapolis Mayoral Race Heats Up With Addition Of Two New Candidates

The Candidates: Several candidates have announced their intention to challenge incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in the upcoming November 2025 election.

• Jacob Frey: The current mayor is preparing to announce his reelection bid, positioning himself as a practical moderate focused on core services.

• Emily Koski: City Council Member representing south central Minneapolis neighborhoods, announced her campaign on December 6.

• Omar Fateh: State Senator who became the first Somali-American and Muslim to serve in the Minnesota Senate, announced his candidacy on December 4.

• Rev. DeWayne Davis: Lead Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church, launched his campaign in mid-October.

• Brenda Short: A candidate who received 4% in a 2021 city council race has filed campaign finance paperwork for a mayoral run.

Key Issues: The mayoral race is expected to focus on significant issues affecting Minneapolis, including public safety and police reform, affordable housing initiatives, labor standards and workers' rights, and strategies for downtown revitalization.

Opposition to Frey: Both Fateh and Koski have painted themselves as very different candidates than Mayor Frey. Koski described Frey as someone who “focuses on creating conflict, turning every issue, every problem into us versus them, building division, not solutions.”

Democrat Domination: Minneapolis has not had a Republican mayor since 1973, with the last elected Republican mayor being Paul Kenneth Pearson in 1957.

Election Process: The DFL party caucus process will begin in April 2025, leading up to the election on November 4, 2025. Minneapolis employs a ranked-choice voting system for its elections, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. .

Government

❯ Packed St. Paul City Council: Nearly 200 St. Paul residents packed the City Council chambers during the Truth in Taxation hearing to voice strong concerns about Mayor Melvin Carter's proposed 7.9% property tax increase for the 2025 budget.

❯ Back To The Drawing Board: The Minneapolis City Council failed to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of a labor standards board ordinance, with two council members flipping their votes from the original 9-3 passage. Frey says he remains confident that he and the council can reach a compromise on the board's structure in January.

❯ Inmates On The Move: The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has moved hundreds of inmates to other county jails to meet the Minnesota Department of Corrections' mandate to reduce the jail population to 600 inmates, spending $3.875 million to temporarily house inmates in seven different facilities until May, 2025.

What Else We’re Reading…

Twin Cities Top Restaurants Announced By Eater

Eater Twin Cities releases an annual list of restaurants, bars, bakeries, pop-ups, and chefs that have defined the past year in dining. Some of the winners include:

Vinai: Best New Restaurant

Dario: Best Damn Pasta

Diane Moua, Diane’s Place: Chef of the Year

Read the full list of awards

GAME: Where is this?

Do you know where this is in the Twin Cities?

Sports 🏒

🏀 The Minnesota Timberwolves are on a three game win streak after back-to-back wins over the LA Clippers and LA Lakers. Donte Divincenzo had this highlight assist.

🏀 The Gopher Men’s Basketball lost their first Big 10 game of the season against Michigan State.

🏒 The Minnesota Frost defeated Boston to get their first win of the 2024-2025 season.

🏐 The Gopher volleyball team won their first round of the NCAA tournament against Western Kentucky. They will play in the second round tonight against third seeded Kentucky.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ A very famous celebrity graced the streets of Minneapolis on Thursday (MPR)

❯ USPS has a strong message for residents in NE Minneapolis who are being a bit too friendly to wild turkeys (WCCO)

❯ A new case is headed before the MN Supreme Court about transgender rights in sports (AP News)

❯ Anoka County residents will be facing a historic property tax increase in 2025 (KSTP)

❯ The Minneapolis City Council rejected a plan to redevelop George Floyd Square (Fox9)

The Final Word: The Iconic Bunny Statue

In Monday’s newsletter I asked you where this large bunny statue is located in Minneapolis. A total of 28 of you responded correctly!

It’s at the cross streets of Minnehaha Creek Parkway and Portland Ave. The bunny even has its own Wikipedia page.

-Patrick