As the hunt for the gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson progressed into its third day on Friday, authorities followed up on hundreds of leads. Health care companies heightened security for their executives while experts cautioned that time is critical in capturing the shooter.

Thompson, the top executive at UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest health insurance firms, was killed early Wednesday outside the Hilton Midtown Manhattan. A masked assailant fled the scene on foot and then on a bicycle into Central Park, prompting a large-scale search in New York City.

Authorities indicated that the shooter may have left New York City by bus after the incident. NYPD officials informed CNN that they have surveillance footage of the suspect entering a bus terminal on the same day of the crime.

“We believe that the individual in question has departed New York City,” said Commissioner Jessica Tisch in an interview.

Earlier, the NYPD shared surveillance images of a “person of interest” who was seen checking into a youth hostel, asking the community for assistance in locating him. He was dressed in a jacket similar to that of the gunman, but carried a different backpack.

Investigators are examining a cellphone found near the incident site as well as three bullet casings engraved with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” According to various news sources, these phrases are linked to strategies used by insurance companies to decline claims, although the police are still trying to uncover the motive behind the shooting.

‘Careful,’ perhaps professional: Experts weigh in on the killer

Even when the weapon appeared to malfunction, the assailant maintained his composure, standing over Thompson to fire again before walking away and leaving behind bullet casings with inscriptions, according to multiple media reports.

Experts shared with YSL News that these details offer vital clues regarding the identity of the suspect and how challenging it may be to apprehend him.

Michael Alcazar, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, stated that with each viewing of the shooting footage, he suspects the shooter may have professional experience.

“It appears this individual might have some background in shooting, and I’m sure investigators are considering this possibility,” said Alcazar, who has a background as a detective with the NYPD. “That notion has certainly come to my mind.”

While the police have not recovered the firearm, Alcazar believes the shooter’s use of a bolt-action pistol suggests he had a specific intent: “That’s a very particular weapon that requires a single shot,” he explained. “It reflects a level of confidence.”

However, others are not convinced.

A professional assassin, they argue, would ensure their firearm is functioning properly and avoid any chance of it jamming, remarked David Carter, a criminal justice professor at Michigan State University and director of the university’s Intelligence program.

“A hired killer would use a revolver, which is more dependable and doesn’t leave behind cartridges, or they would take the cartridges with them,” Carter added.

The engravings of “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” on the bullet casings suggest a motive tied to personal grievances rather than professional work, Carter suggested.

“There’s no reason a hired killer would leave such evidence because it serves as unique identifiers,” Carter noted.

The shooter seems to have strategically planned the attack and concealed his identity through various means, such as using a fake ID, wearing a face mask, and staying at a hostel. He also chose to flee on foot and by bike instead of utilizing a rental car.

The apparent use of a silencer may have also aided his escape unnoticed, according to Alcazar.

“Using a regular firearm would have likely attracted more attention and scrutiny,” Alcazar pointed out. “This choice was smart for his getaway.”

Nevertheless, both Carter and Alcazar concur that regardless of whether the shooter is a hired assassin or someone acting out of revenge or another motive, he will ultimately be captured.

“He seems to have been very methodical,” Alcazar commented, regarding both the planning of the attack and the subsequent escape.

“During the investigation, while collecting surveillance footage and evidence, law enforcement must exercise the utmost precision.”

– Phaedra Trethan

Murder of Health Insurance CEO Sparks Online Backlash Against Industry

The shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has ignited a wave of criticism on social media directed at his company and the American health insurance sector, which plays a crucial role in the $4.5 trillion healthcare system.

While social media often breeds anger and “good riddance” comments following a high-profile murder, experts note that the reaction this time seems uniquely intense.

The incident in Midtown Manhattan has tapped into widespread public frustration with an industry that many only interact with through frustrating delays and denials for necessary healthcare, according to Wendell Potter, a former CIGNA executive turned whistleblower on the health insurance industry.

“For years, I’ve been hearing from individuals distressed by care denials and delays, and this situation provided an outlet for their pent-up anger towards someone who suddenly became a symbol of that frustration,” Potter stated.

Stock Prices of Health Insurers Drop Post-Murder

Following the fatal shooting of Thompson, the head of UnitedHealthcare’s insurance division, stocks of health insurance providers continued to decline on Friday, just two days after the incident.

On Friday, UnitedHealth shares fell by 4.8% following a 5% drop the previous day. Competing insurers such as Elevance, Centene, CVS Health, and Cigna saw their stocks decrease by 1% to 3% during afternoon trading. These stocks also registered losses on Thursday.

The backlash materialized online, coinciding with widespread grievances regarding difficulties faced while navigating the U.S. health insurance landscape, particularly concerning uncovered medical expenses and denied insurance claims or care requests.

“Public sentiment against insurers in the wake of this event signals that UnitedHealth, and potentially the broader industry, may need to reevaluate how they manage coverage decisions,” remarked Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback.

The health insurance sector has been grappling with rising costs recently, driven by a surge in demand for healthcare under government-supported Medicare plans for seniors and individuals with disabilities, alongside shifts in Medicaid eligibility across states that have led to a higher patient load needing various medical services.

Investigators Collect DNA Evidence in Murder Case

In the aftermath of Thompson’s murder, police have gathered DNA evidence and sent it to the city’s medical examiner for analysis, as reported by multiple outlets.

Authorities reportedly collected DNA from a water bottle believed to be purchased by the shooter at a nearby Starbucks. According to the New York Times, there is currently uncertainty regarding the DNA’s origin or its ability to immediately identify the suspect, highlighting the need for a match within available law enforcement databases.

New York Police Continue Search for Murderer

Security experts emphasize that the initial 48 hours following a violent crime offer a crucial chance to apprehend a fleeing suspect, a period that has now lapsed.

“Time is of the essence,” stated Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective and adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “They have yet to recover the gun, the bicycle, or the backpack. Delays can mean losing essential pieces of evidence.”

Rodriguez likened solving the case to assembling a complex jigsaw puzzle.

“You start with the edges and assemble inwards, but currently, they might not possess all necessary pieces. Nevertheless, the case is progressing,” he noted.

Rodriguez further added that investigations should extend beyond New York City since the suspect may have left the city or even the state.

Healthcare Firms Limit Executive Information Post-Shooting

In light of Thompson’s murder, CVS Health has removed images of its executive team from its website, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the organization on Friday. Spokesperson Ethan Slavin did not provide details regarding the reasons behind the removal.

An archived version of the company’s “Meet our leadership team” page from the day of the shooting reveals a collection of photos linked to executive bios. Presently, these images of the leadership, including the CEO and other high-ranking officials, have been omitted.

Medica, a nonprofit health plan servicing nearly 1.5 million individuals, also opted to eliminate executive bios from its website as a precaution following Thompson’s murder, according to spokesperson Greg Bury. The organization is temporarily shutting down all six of its locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

Health insurer Centene has also taken steps to enhance security by removing executive images from their corporate websites. On Thursday, Centene announced that their upcoming in-person investor day would transition to an online format instead.

These actions highlight the growing concerns over the safety of executives and their families across various sectors, including healthcare, given the rise in both digital and physical threats stemming from heightened public discontent, increased cyber threats, and a surge in hostility, as noted by Chris Pierson, CEO of security firm BlackCloak.

Pierson explained that increased transparency regarding executives’ activities has complicated their protection measures, citing Thompson’s upcoming speaking engagement at UnitedHealth’s yearly investor conference at the same hotel where he was murdered.

“For board members and corporate leaders, their personal and professional lives are becoming alarmingly intertwined, leading to unprecedented risks and threats for themselves and their families,” Pierson added.

NYC Mayor Expresses Confidence in Apprehending CEO’s Killer

During an interview on NY1 Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed confidence that the individual responsible for Thompson’s murder would be captured.

Officials are hopeful that the NYPD will apprehend the shooter, even though valuable time is passing since the attack.

“We are making progress. We will hold this individual accountable,” he stated, as reported by the New York Times. “The suspect was entirely masked, and our traditional police techniques have helped us arrive at the image you see.”

Police discover new evidence related to the shooter

Investigators are tracing the clues left by the gunman both before and after the incident. Authorities suspect he arrived by bus on November 24 and spent time at a hostel on the Upper West Side, where he booked a room using a fake New Jersey identification, according to the Times.

The bus journey to New York started from Atlanta, but it remains unclear where the shooter boarded, as per CNN’s report, which also mentioned that unmasked images of him were taken at the hostel’s front desk during an interaction with a clerk.

Police mentioned they found a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper, which they believe the suspect purchased at a nearby Starbucks. These items are currently under analysis. However, the Times noted that the fingerprint found on the bottle was too smudged to provide useful evidence.

Law enforcement is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

NYPD reviews surveillance footage to find the shooter

New York City police are examining footage from both public and private cameras to track the gunman’s movements before and after the shooting.

At 6:17 a.m., surveillance cameras at a Starbucks located at West 56th Street and 6th Avenue, just two blocks from the hotel, captured the suspect at the counter, CBS News reported. Despite his face being partially concealed, police are employing facial recognition technology to identify him, according to the BBC.

Approximately half an hour later, security footage recorded the moment Thompson was shot outside the hotel.

Authorities have released several images of the shooter, depicting him in a dark jacket with a hood, black mask, black-and-white sneakers, and a distinctive gray backpack. The NYPD released new images on Thursday of an individual they referred to as a “person of interest” in connection to the shooting.

Who was Brian Thompson?

Thompson resided in Maple Grove, Minnesota, around 15 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Police departments in both cities stated they had no records of any threats made against him.

He is survived by his two sons and his wife, Paulette Thompson, a physical therapist for over 20 years, who graduated from the same university as he did, according to her work profile.

Thompson earned his Bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Iowa in 1997, based on his LinkedIn.

Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and, over the following twenty years, rose through various roles before assuming leadership of its health insurance division. The company noted on Wednesday that Thompson was “a well-respected colleague and friend to all.”

Mike Tuffin, president and CEO of AHIP, a trade association for commercial health insurance, shared in a statement his feelings of “heartbreak and horror” over the loss of his friend Brian Thompson.

“He was a loving father, a loyal friend to many, and an open and honest leader,” Tuffin expressed. “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and his colleagues at UnitedHealth Group during this tough time.”

(This is an ongoing story and will be updated.)