The New York bomber may have used a very rare weapon. This veterinary pistol is the successor to a legendary secret service weapon.
Surveillance video showed the fatal shooting of the CEO of US insurer UnitedHealthcare. And it raised questions. The shooter pointed a large pistol, equipped with a silencer, at 50-year-old Brian Thompson. then it looked like the weapon had jammed, so he fixed the problem in cold blood.
Experts now believe they know what weapon it was. Apparently not one of the common guns, like a Glock. As the New York Post reported, citing police sources, the perpetrator allegedly used a very unusual weapon, namely a so-called veterinary gun. Such a weapon is used on farms and ranches to kill large animals. Frequently enough to relieve them of suffering.
The weapon is designed for veterinarians
The silencer here is not an extra, it is indeed an integral part of the gun. when B&T introduced the VP9 type in 2014, the “Deutsche Waffen Journal” had the headline: “The Silent Redeemer”. The B&T VP9 is clearly different from other weapons. It is optimized for silence. The weapon has a magazine with only five rounds in 9mm caliber, but it does not reload automatically. The gun therefore did not have a jammer and the shooter had to manually reload the next shell. To do this, the rear lock is turned and the bolt is pulled out and reinserted. According to “DWJ” for an untrained doctor the single shot weapon design represents a safety advantage. The VP9 also has a veterinary symbol.
The gun is a B&T VP9 pic.twitter.com/SPzbn26B0B
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The choice of such a weapon seems at first glance extremely unusual. It might very well be the choice of a total professional. On the one hand,the offender’s approach is very clever. Therefore he probably was able to leave New york on a public bus. but then again, he is not a professional killer; too often he exposes his face in front of the camera. Even if it is indeed partially obscured, the details will help identify it.
No reliable results
forbes
This clarification woudl help the police a lot. The circle of suspects is very narrow. The VP9 is expensive. According to weapons expert Ray Helms, there are only about 250 gun kits in total in the United States. The market price is much higher than that declared by the Swiss manufacturer: the weapon is said to trade for $6,000. Such a high price suggests that it is sought after by collectors. For comparison: an animal can be killed even with a bolt gun or an ordinary hand weapon – the cost here is 500 US dollars.
Murder weapon with a story
The VP9 is the successor to the Welrod pistol. It was developed during world war II as a silent killer for special and partisan units. Fewer than 3,000 were built, but the weapon’s reputation is legendary.in the battle of the secret services during the Cold War it became the ideal weapon for an assassin – but this was mainly thanks to the “florid imagination of the screenwriters”, according to “DWJ”.
The Swiss manufacturer B&T is best known for it’s silencers. With the VP9, B&T shows what insulation is possible.Normally a suppressor is developed after the fact for a weapon. With the VP9 it is indeed different, the system assembly was built as an optimal addition to the shock absorber. It measures 154 millimeters in length and 35 millimeters in diameter. There are a total of four chambers in the damper that house the expanding gases. They are separated from each other by rubber washers. The projectile exits through a cross-shaped slot in the discs, but the discs contain the gases very effectively. When you repeat the process, you hear a hissing sound – this indicates how effectively the gas is being trapped.
Discrete crackle
The high performance of the damper has some known disadvantages; the projectile does not reach the same kinetic energy as without a damper. When shooting at close range like in New York, and especially on a ranch, this effect doesn’t matter. Rubber washers wear out quickly and need to be replaced after ten shots. The sales kit therefore includes a less powerful training shock absorber.
Laypeople believe that even ordinary silencers make a weapon almost silent.This is the case in the film, but not in reality. But the VP9 succeeds. Not only is the sound pressure reduced, but the characteristics of the noise also change and it no longer resembles a gunshot. “Under normal ambient noise, a shot from the VP9 will be lost acoustically,” says “DWJ.” In Ray Helms’ exhibition video in a quiet environment only a slight pop is heard,the click of the shutter when charging is more noticeable.
Small circle of owners
B&T’s VP9, if it were the murder weapon, could be the best lead in the case. If there were only a few copies in the United States as alleged, this could lead to the perpetrator. The circle of practical users becomes even smaller due to the legendary status of the weapon. It is likely that a good portion is preserved in collections. Given the very high price,resales should also be traceable.
What is the significance of using a veterinary pistol like the B&T VP9 in a homicide case?
Interview Between Time.News Editor and Weaponry Expert, Dr. Linda Carter
Time.News Editor (TNE): Welcome, Dr. Carter. We appreciate your time today too discuss this highly unusual case involving the weapon used in the recent homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. To begin,could you summarize what we certainly know about the weapon?
Dr. Linda Carter (DLC): thank you for having me. From the surveillance footage and reports, it appears the shooter used a B&T VP9 veterinary pistol, a weapon that is far removed from the typical firearms we see in homicides. It’s designed primarily for euthanizing large animals, which makes it’s use in this context quite alarming.
TNE: I understand that this type of weapon is specifically engineered for veterinarians. How does that change our perception of the shooter’s intent and skill level?
DLC: The choice of a veterinary gun like the VP9 suggests a calculated approach, perhaps indicating that the shooter is not your everyday criminal. The B&T VP9 comes with an integral silencer and has a manual reloading mechanism. This means the shooter had to have a certain level of familiarity and dexterity with the weapon, which could imply a level of professionalism or premeditation. However, the shooter made mistakes, like exposing thier face on camera, which raises questions about their actual background.
TNE: That’s interesting. The article mentions that this weapon may have a very limited presence in the U.S. market. Can you shed light on its availability and what that means for the inquiry?
DLC: Yes, exactly. There are only about 250 B&T VP9 kits in the entire United States, making it a very rare find. The market price for these weapons is significantly high—around $6,000. This rarity and expense suggest that the shooter might have had some connections to the collector community or specialized markets. For investigators, this means they are likely looking for very few individuals who could have access to such a weapon, significantly narrowing the suspect pool.
TNE: The term “total professional” comes up in discussions about the shooter. Do you think their choice of weapon aligns with that assessment?
DLC: It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, using a weapon designed for veterinarians shows a degree of sophistication—selecting a tool optimized for silence. But on the other hand, the act of exposing oneself in front of surveillance cameras indicates a lack of caution typical of skilled hitmen. A professional would be far more discreet. This paradox raises many questions about their motivations and background.
TNE: You mentioned the weapon’s design,especially how it is meant for manual operation. How does that influence the operational dynamics of a shooting?
DLC: The VP9 is single-shot only, which means after each shot, the shooter must manually reload the next round. In a high-stress situation, that can be a disadvantage unless the shooter is trained. However, this design offers a safety advantage for untrained users, reducing the likelihood of misfires during a tense situation. It’s an fascinating feature, as it requires familiarity to operate effectively under pressure.
TNE: As we wrap up, what do you think the implications are for law enforcement moving forward?
DLC: They will need to dig deeper into the niche communities that collect these types of weapons. Cross-referencing ownership or sales records might lead them to potential suspects. Additionally, analyzing how the shooter acquired the weapon will be central to understanding their intentions and possibly unraveling their network. this case underscores the need for vigilance around rare firearms and their potential misuse.
TNE: Thank you,Dr. Carter, for your insightful analysis. Your expertise certainly sheds light on the complexities of this case.
DLC: Thank you for having me. I hope this discussion promotes further understanding of such intricate situations.