Jesse Weber
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
In the days following the shooting, the NYPD launched an exhaustive effort to track down the suspected killer. Their first breakthrough came from the city's vast network of surveillance cameras. Detectives meticulously sifted through hours of footage. Former FBI and CIA agent Tracy Walder explains how they retraced the suspect's steps before and after the crime.
In the days following the shooting, the NYPD launched an exhaustive effort to track down the suspected killer. Their first breakthrough came from the city's vast network of surveillance cameras. Detectives meticulously sifted through hours of footage. Former FBI and CIA agent Tracy Walder explains how they retraced the suspect's steps before and after the crime.
Here's what they found from the morning of the shooting. At 5.41 a.m., cameras inside a Starbucks on West 56th Street and 6th Avenue recorded the shooter as he stepped inside, appearing calm. He placed an order, waited briefly, then exited, disappearing into the shadows of towering buildings. Nearly an hour later at 6.30 a.m., another camera caught him just outside the Hilton Midtown Hotel.
Here's what they found from the morning of the shooting. At 5.41 a.m., cameras inside a Starbucks on West 56th Street and 6th Avenue recorded the shooter as he stepped inside, appearing calm. He placed an order, waited briefly, then exited, disappearing into the shadows of towering buildings. Nearly an hour later at 6.30 a.m., another camera caught him just outside the Hilton Midtown Hotel.
He walked along the sidewalk, phone pressed to his ear, his movements deliberate but unhurried. The streets around him remained quiet, the morning rush not yet in full swing. Fifteen minutes later at 6.45 a.m., the shooter reappeared, this time approaching UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from behind.
He walked along the sidewalk, phone pressed to his ear, his movements deliberate but unhurried. The streets around him remained quiet, the morning rush not yet in full swing. Fifteen minutes later at 6.45 a.m., the shooter reappeared, this time approaching UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from behind.
The moment was brief, captured in chilling clarity by a security camera near the hotel entrance. Without warning, he raised a firearm, racked the pistol after it appeared to jam, fired multiple shots at close range, ultimately striking Thompson in the back and leg. The executive collapsed while the shooter hesitated for only a second before slipping the gun back into his jacket.
The moment was brief, captured in chilling clarity by a security camera near the hotel entrance. Without warning, he raised a firearm, racked the pistol after it appeared to jam, fired multiple shots at close range, ultimately striking Thompson in the back and leg. The executive collapsed while the shooter hesitated for only a second before slipping the gun back into his jacket.
His movements were carefully analyzed, each frame of footage bringing law enforcement closer to understanding his escape route. By 6.48 a.m., he was gone. Cameras followed his retreat as he crossed the street, ducked into an alley and mounted a bicycle. In the final frames, he could be seen pedaling into the vast expanse of Central Park, vanishing into the early morning haze.
His movements were carefully analyzed, each frame of footage bringing law enforcement closer to understanding his escape route. By 6.48 a.m., he was gone. Cameras followed his retreat as he crossed the street, ducked into an alley and mounted a bicycle. In the final frames, he could be seen pedaling into the vast expanse of Central Park, vanishing into the early morning haze.
It was a seemingly flawless escape, but the digital eye of the city had already etched his movements into evidence. And there was more. As detectives followed the suspect's trail further backwards, more clues surfaced. They discovered he had checked into a New York City hostel using a fraudulent New Jersey ID. And on CCTV footage from the hostel, one critical image emerged.
It was a seemingly flawless escape, but the digital eye of the city had already etched his movements into evidence. And there was more. As detectives followed the suspect's trail further backwards, more clues surfaced. They discovered he had checked into a New York City hostel using a fraudulent New Jersey ID. And on CCTV footage from the hostel, one critical image emerged.
In all the security footage before, the suspect's face had been covered.
In all the security footage before, the suspect's face had been covered.
a male figure cloaked in shadows, a hood drawn tightly over his head, obscuring much of his face, but the most anyone had captured until now.
a male figure cloaked in shadows, a hood drawn tightly over his head, obscuring much of his face, but the most anyone had captured until now.