Thomas “Tommy” Gilbert Jr. (Facebook)
A millionaire hedge fund founder was shot dead inside of his Manhattan apartment on January 4. Hours later his son was arrested and taken into custody. Thomas Gilbert Sr. was found by his wife, Shelley, inside their $6,000-a-month home close to the United Nations building. He had been shot in the head. Hours later, the Gilberts’ son, Thomas Jr. aka Tommy, was arrested by the NYPD inside of his Chelsea apartment. He has been charged with the murder of his dad.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Thomas Gilbert Sr. Was Shot Dead in His Bedroom
The shooting happened at around 3:30 p.m. on January 4. Tommy, 30, allegedly sneaked into the building, past the doorman and went upstairs to his dad’s apartment. Tommy then left the building a few minutes later, using a hoodie to cover his face. His father had been the founder of hedge fund Wainscott Capital. He was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head. The Wall Street Journal reports that Thomas Gilbert was in his bedroom when his son marched into the room to “discuss their relationship.” Shelley Gilbert wasn’t home when the attack happened but she returned shortly after Tommy left and found her husband dead. She called 911. A .40 caliber gun was found close to Thomas Gilbert’s body.
2. Tommy Was Angry With His Father Over His Allowance
Sources: #NYPD det. believe East Side hedge fund mgr Thomas Gilbert was murdered Son here at 17th pct for questioning http://t.co/vnuhsMb1z6
Tommy Gilbert has not been officially named as a suspect by the NYPD. Investigators in the case have not ruled out suicide, reports the New York Post. He was arrested after a standoff with cops inside of his apartment in Chelsea at around 10:30 p.m. No motive has been made public by the NYPD. The New York Daily News reports that the argument was over Tommy’s allowance. The paper reports that Thomas Gilbert had brought his son’s allowance down to $400 per week and had threatened to stop paying his son’s rent.
3. He’s Suspected of Burning Down a Rival’s House in the Hamptons
Thomas Gilbert’s wife, Shelley, found her husband’s dead body. (Facebook)
The New York Post reports that Gilbert is a suspect in a house fire in the Hamptons back in September. Arson had been suspected in the case after firefighters found a can of gasoline in a nearby graveyard. The house belonged to Peter Smith Sr., whose son, also named Peter, had a falling out with Tommy. Their argument was over a girl. The two had previously been friends, socializing at New York’s exclusive Maidstone Club. Prior to setting the fire, Tommy was also accused of killing his former friend’s dog.
4. Tommy Was a Man About Town
Tommy Gilbert pictured in March 2013. (Facebook)
Tommy is a prominent socialite in Manhattan. In March 2014, he was pictured at the School of American Ballet’s winter ball with PR guru Arielle Patrick on his arm. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Patrick didn’t say if she and Tommy had or were dating. Other events he’s been pictured at include the Parrish Art Museum Midsummer Party and the Young New Yorkers Summer Party, both in 2012. Although a friend told the Today Show in an interview that over the last few years, Tommy had become “volatile.” Since December 2014, he had been in therapy. His former girlfriend, socialite and serial divorcee Anna Rothschild had told the New York Post that Tommy once told her his dad called him stupid and wouldn’t give him the money to start his own hedge fund.
Tommy Gilbert attended the Buckley School on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, from there he went on to the Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, where he boarded during his high school years. Graduates of the school include King Abdullah of Jordan and billionaire David Koch.
Upon graduation, he went to Princeton, his father’s alma-mater. He graduated from the Ivy League school in 2009. On his Facebook page, Tommy doesn’t say what he does for a living.
5. The Building’s Doorman Got a ‘Bad Vibe’ When He Saw Tommy Enter the Building
Beekman Place, where Thomas Gilbert lived. (Google Street View)
Speaking to the New York Daily News, Thomas Gilbert’s doorman said the late hedge fund founder was “friendly” and “very nice.” He also told the paper that he got a “bad vibe” when he saw Tommy run into the building. In addition to his swanky apartment, Thomas Gilbert, until recently, owned a $10 million house in the Hamptons. In an interview with FIN alternatives, Thomas Gilbert attributed his businesses’ solid success to its “moderate risk profile.”
