New details emerged Thursday in the investigation into the masked gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, shedding light on potential leads regarding his movements before the shooting and a cryptic message found on ammunition at the crime scene.
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The ammunition was marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” terms linked to criticism of the insurance industry, according to two law enforcement sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. One of the officials stated that the words were written in permanent marker.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility that the suspect traveled to New York on a bus from Atlanta last month. Law enforcement is working with Greyhound to track the suspect’s travel and determine whether he bought a bus ticket to New York in late November.
Police also released new images Thursday of a person of interest in connection with Thompson’s killing. These photos, which show a man smiling in the lobby of a Manhattan hostel, add to a growing collection of surveillance footage, including shots of the gunman at a Starbucks shortly before the shooting.
Thompson, the CEO of one of the U.S.’s largest health insurers, was fatally ambushed Wednesday morning while walking from his Midtown hotel to the company’s annual investor conference at a nearby Hilton. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, though the motive remains unclear.
The words on the ammunition found at the scene are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” often used by critics of the insurance industry to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. This refers to insurers delaying payments, denying claims, and defending these actions. UnitedHealthcare, like many health insurers, faces ongoing criticism from doctors and patients for denying claims and hindering access to care.
Investigators also found a cellphone near a pedestrian plaza where the shooter fled. Nearby, they discovered a water bottle and protein bar wrapper, which were purchased from Starbucks just moments before the attack. The city’s crime lab is analyzing these items for DNA and fingerprints.
Additionally, a tip led police to two hostels on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Thursday morning, where they learned that the suspect may have stayed at one of them. The new photos were taken at the HI New York City hostel. Authorities believe the gunman used a fraudulent New Jersey ID to check in, and hostel workers recalled seeing him frequently wearing a mask and interacting with staff while masked. His jacket appeared similar to one worn by the suspect in surveillance footage.
After the shooting, police say the gunman fled on a bicycle and was last seen heading into Central Park.
Numerous tips from the public have poured in, though many have been unfounded. For instance, police searched a Long Island Rail Road train after a commuter reported seeing the suspect but found no trace of him.
“We are following up on every lead,” said Assistant Commissioner Carlos Nieves, a police spokesperson. “Any small piece of information could be crucial.”
Based on evidence, investigators believe the shooter was skilled with firearms and may have received training. The weapon used in the attack was also equipped with a silencer. Authorities are investigating whether the suspect had planned his escape in advance, possibly positioning the bicycle as part of the plan.
Surveillance footage shows the gunman approaching Thompson from behind, firing multiple shots while clearing a gun jam before the executive collapsed onto the sidewalk. The suspect then fled the scene, crossing a pedestrian plaza and riding off on the bicycle.
The public has seen several images of the shooter wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that obscured most of his face—an outfit that blended in with the chilly morning weather.
Thompson, a father of two from a suburb of Minneapolis, had worked at UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for over three years. His wife, Paulette, told NBC News that Thompson had mentioned being threatened by certain individuals, though she didn’t provide specific details, suggesting the threats might have been related to insurance coverage issues.
The tragic shooting occurred as UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting in New York, where the company planned to update investors on its outlook. Following Thompson’s death, the conference was canceled.
UnitedHealthcare, which serves over 49 million Americans, is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and also manages insurance coverage for employers and Medicaid programs. In October, the company was highlighted in a Senate report alongside Humana and CVS, revealing a rise in denials of prior authorizations for certain Medicare Advantage patients.
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