NEW YORK — As the investigation into the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, enters its third day, new leads have come to light regarding the gunman’s movements prior to the attack and a message discovered on the ammunition used.
Thompson was ambushed early Wednesday morning while walking from a hotel in Midtown Manhattan to an investor conference hosted by the health insurance giant, conveniently located near popular attractions such as Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. Despite the elapsed time, the shooter remains unidentified, and authorities have classified the incident as a targeted assault.
Detectives are diligently working to reconstruct the timeline of the suspect’s actions before the shooting, combing through security footage and examining items like a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper that were discarded nearby in hopes of retrieving DNA evidence.
Authorities have revealed that the ammunition contained the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” reflecting a narrative commonly associated with critiques of the insurance sector. These terms resonate with the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” frequently used by critics and legal advisors to characterize strategies employed by insurers to circumvent claim payouts.
It has become increasingly evident that Thompson’s death may relate to broader dissatisfaction with the health insurance system, which has faced scrutiny for claim denials and difficult access to care for patients. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the suspect might have traveled to New York last month on a Greyhound bus originating from Atlanta, with authorities investigating potential ticket purchases made in late November.
Investigators are also pursuing leads from a mobile phone that was recovered from an area where the shooter escaped. Moreover, a tip indicating that the gunman could have stayed at a hostel prompted police to investigate multiple facilities in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for one such hostel mentioned their full cooperation with the New York Police Department while refraining from elaborating further due to the active nature of the investigation.
On Thursday, law enforcement released new images of a person they wish to question in relation to Thompson’s murder. The released images show an individual without a mask, smiling in the hostel lobby, joining the other released video footage, which includes clips from the shooting and still images of the suspect near a Starbucks prior to the incident.
It appears that the suspect may have used a falsified New Jersey ID during his stay at the hostel, according to one law enforcement official. Staff members claimed to remember a male guest who consistently wore a mask while interacting with them, resembling the person seen in surveillance footage released after the incident.
After the incident, authorities believe the assailant fled the scene on a bicycle, with the last sighting recorded in Central Park. Investigators speculate that the shooter displayed some level of firearms training, as evidence gathered suggests he was armed with a silencer-enhanced weapon, and it remains unclear if he had planned a pre-arranged escape via bicycle.
Surveillance footage depicted the assailant sneaking up on Thompson and firing several shots without hesitation, even managing to clear a jammed weapon as the executive fell to the ground. The images taken show the assailant wearing a hooded coat and a mask that largely concealed his identity, an outfit that would have blended in with the chilly weather.
Thompson was a dedicated father of two living in the Minneapolis area and had been part of UnitedHealthcare since 2004, stepping into the CEO role over three years ago. His wife mentioned to NBC News that Thompson had reported threats made against him, although specific details regarding the threats remain undisclosed; she implied they might pertain to disputes over insurance policies.
The conference that Thompson was attending was organized by UnitedHealth Group Inc. to inform investors about their upcoming plans and projections. Following Thompson’s tragic death, the company chose to close the conference prematurely.
UnitedHealthcare is a significant player in the American health insurance market, providing coverage to over 49 million individuals and generating upwards of $281 billion in revenue last fiscal year. The firm holds the title of the largest supplier of Medicare Advantage plans nationwide and oversees insurance for employers, as well as state and federally supported Medicaid programs.
In a recent Senate report, UnitedHealthcare was mentioned alongside Humana and CVS regarding an alarming increase in the denial rates associated with prior authorizations for certain Medicare Advantage patients in recent years.
