The investigation into Wednesday’s brazen Midtown shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is “progressing,” law enforcement sources said, as the hunt for his assassin enters its second day with the release of surveillance images of his face,
By all appearances, the shooting appears to be a brazen execution in which the gunman deliberately targeted Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in a cold, calculated attack straight out of a movie plotline — and that plot thickened Thursday morning with new unsettling images of the gunman’s face.
One of the images shows the suspect smiling.
Lethal words on shell casings
One of the latest twists is that Crime Scene detectives recovered shell casings at the scene that, according to ABC News, had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” engraved on them. This has left investigators looking to determine what the message means and if the gunman had a particular vendetta against the insurance company.
Police sources also revealed that the masked shooter made purchases at a nearby Starbucks just one block away mere minutes before the incident unfolded. The transaction was caught on surveillance video and gave law enforcement a better look at the assassin — whose face was nonetheless obscured by a black mask and a hood.
Law enforcement sources said the killer arrived outside the Hilton, at West 54th Street and 6th Avenue, five minutes before Thompson, who was in town from Minnesota, left his hotel and made his way to the Hilton.
Sources: Assassin stayed in hostel
The photos of the assassin that police released on Thursday show him inside a hostel near the corner of West 103rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, where — according to sources familiar with the probe — the suspect had stayed prior to Wednesday’s execution.
The suspect appeared to have worn his mask throughout his stay save for a few brief moments, including an instance when he was caught on security camera. Sources close to the investigation said they believe he stayed with two other individuals at the hotel, but those guests do not appear to be directly tied to the killing.
Lying in wait
According to police, the gunman appeared to know exactly what entrance the CEO would use that morning while on the way to speak at an investor meeting.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.”
The assassin, who looked to have used a handgun equipped with a silencer, fired three times, with two bullets striking Thompson in the back and leg. Disturbing footage from the scene shows the CEO stagger before collapsing.
“The shooter steps onto the sidewalk from behind the car. He ignores numerous other pedestrians, approaches the victim from behind and shoots him in the back. The shooter then walks towards the victim and continues to shoot,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “The shooter continues to walk westbound on the Avenue of the Americas, where he gets onto an electric bike and rides northbound on the Avenue of the Americas towards Central Park, where, at 6:48 a.m., we have the shooter riding his bike into Central Park.”
During the killer’s escape through Ziegfeld Alley, just across from where the shooting took place, police say they believe he may have dropped his cellphone. Detectives are currently attempting to comb through it.
Healthcare execs alarmed; no sympathy for victim
As the manhunt continues, CNN reported that the leaders of major healthcare providers are looking to hire security for protection.
“The heads of major health care concerns and their security departments were adding people, security details, precautions, mail screening — across the country,” said CNN’s Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John J. Miller, a former NYPD deputy commissioner of public information.
This comes as those online are sharing more sympathy for the killer than the man who lost his life, bemoaning what they cite as corporate greed, which has concerns those in the industry.
“You can’t co-pay me enough to care,” one commenter wrote on amNewYork Metro’s social media, adding, “My thoughts and prayers are not in network.”
“Can’t co-pay that damage,” another wrote.
Police urge anyone with information about the execution to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
