Authorities investigating the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, earlier this week believe the masked assailant has fled New York City. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed this development on Friday afternoon, stating, “We have reason to believe he is no longer in New York City.”
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny of the New York Police Department provided further details, explaining that investigators have been conducting an extensive review of surveillance footage. This effort spans the area of the shooting in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning and stretches uptown.
In an interview with CNN, Kenny revealed that the suspect was last seen taking a taxi to 178th Street and Broadway, near the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. The station serves commuters heading to destinations including New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and upstate New York. “We have video of him entering the Port Authority bus terminal. We don’t have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have boarded a bus,” Kenny stated, adding that it remains unclear which bus the suspect might have taken.
Meanwhile, police are conducting a thorough sweep of Central Park, where the gunman is suspected to have left his backpack after the attack.
A Calculated Attack
The chilling events unfolded early on Wednesday morning as Thompson arrived at a Midtown Hilton hotel for an investor conference. The assailant approached him from behind and fired multiple rounds. According to Commissioner Tisch, the suspect had been “lying in wait for several minutes,” only firing once Thompson appeared. This has led investigators to believe the killing was premeditated and targeted.
Evidence from the scene includes three discharged nine-millimetre bullets with the cryptic words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” inscribed on them. Police are exploring whether these inscriptions, commonly associated with critics of the health insurance industry, offer a clue to the motive.
Further clues include an electric bike used in the suspect’s escape and a phone recovered along the getaway route. Surveillance footage also captured the suspect entering Central Park before disappearing from view.
Connections to the U.S. Health Insurance Industry
The killing of Thompson, the head of one of the United States’ largest health insurers, has sent shockwaves across the country. UnitedHealth Group released a statement expressing gratitude for the “outpouring of kindness and support” following the tragedy. The company pledged to support Thompson’s family, ensure employee safety, and assist law enforcement in capturing the perpetrator.
Since the shooting, UnitedHealth has faced heightened scrutiny, including online criticism over denied medical claims and outrage over the state of healthcare in the U.S.
The Search Continues
Investigators have tied the suspect to a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where staff recognised him from surveillance images. He reportedly used a fake New Jersey ID to check in. The NYPD has released photos of an unmasked man seen in the hostel lobby, now identified as a person of interest.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 5, 2024
UPDATE: Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4. This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premediated, targeted attack.
The full investigative efforts of… pic.twitter.com/K3kzC4IbtS
Kenny described the assailant as proficient in firearms, noting that surveillance footage showed him quickly clearing a weapon malfunction during the attack.
The investigation has now entered its third day, with the NYPD deploying drones and continuing to analyse footage in hopes of locating the suspect.
As for the inscribed bullet casings, some observers have drawn parallels to Jay M. Feinman’s 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. Feinman has not commented on the connection.
While the suspect’s precise motive remains unclear, the targeted nature of the attack and the cryptic messages left behind suggest a deliberate act with deeper implications. Authorities continue to pursue all leads to bring the perpetrator to justice.
