ExxonMobil executive shot dead on Belgian street

[Andrew49]

The shooting is understood to have happened on 14 October, but Belgian authorities had imposed a news blackout - something they said was common in investigations of serious crimes.

Belgian authorities now say they are seeking the public's help in solving the killing.

LINK

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Weird one. Looks like a contract killing, assassination. I understand the victim was involved at a senior level in leading the search for more efficient fuels at Exxon. Whether that includes substitute fuels or further refinements to the process I don't know.

Could be anything really. Divorced and remarried but quite some time back so scorned partner theory doesn't really catch.

On the personal side could be gambling debts or somesuch but then the fact that the police have had a news blackout and have a scarcity of leads so that they have to appeal to the public for info would seem to rule something like that out.

Definitely a professional hit though from what I've read.

[fluffybiscuits]

The shooting is understood to have happened on 14 October, but Belgian authorities had imposed a news blackout - something they said was common in investigations of serious crimes.

Belgian authorities now say they are seeking the public's help in solving the killing.

LINK

Saw this on the BBC

Wasnt there something about them thinking that he may have been car jacked? But this theory was thrown out the window when he was seen on CCTV going into a 4x4.,

[Holly]

The more I hear, the more I am inclined to believe it was a botched robbery and carjacking. The Englishman was shot only after reaching into a pocket for the card to open the car door and this action might have been interpreted as reaching for a weapon.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Why would carjackers be carrying a gun or guns? The guy was shot three times. A panicked carjacker would shoot once and then run. They made sure that they had killed him and didn't shoot the nearest witness.

Also, the two attackers are then said to run off. They must have had a vehicle or at least a motorbike parked nearby because they were able to make an escape and no trace of them since.

If it was a random carjacking gone wrong the police would have had some leads, CCTV on the vehicle they used to get away by now. Most urban places have CCTV. The fact that there has been nothing in two weeks and the news blackout by Belgian police for that amount of time would indicate that the police themselves think it is more than just a random carjacking gone wrong.

Otherwise they'd have lifted the blackout within a day or two of the shooting to appeal for info.