A data scientist named Riley has made a startling claim in connection to the tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Riley, who has been scraping Citi Bike tracking data every minute, believes he has pinpointed the escape route of the assassin using electric Citi Bikes.
According to Riley’s post on X (formerly Twitter), he identified the only northbound Citi Bike to leave the vicinity within 10 minutes of the shooting at the Hilton hotel where Thompson was entering. This bike, which left at 6:44 AM, made its way to Madison Ave & 82nd St by 6:52 AM. Riley even shared a map screenshot to support his claim.
Riley tipped off the NYPD with this information, and sources suggest that detectives are actively looking into it. While the lead is considered “small,” law enforcement is investigating it alongside other leads in the case.
In addition to the Citi Bike lead, the NYPD is utilizing extensive surveillance footage from the “Ring of Steel” cameras across Manhattan, especially in the Midtown area, which can track suspects’ movements. Authorities are reportedly confident that the suspect’s face is visible in these videos and that they will be able to trace his steps.
The shooting itself was captured on surveillance footage, showing the masked shooter approaching Thompson from behind, firing three shots at close range, and then fleeing into an alley. Thompson was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
