Police are investigating whether the weapon used to kill United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a “veterinary-grade” gun commonly used to euthanize animals, New York City police officials said. That’s what it means.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said the weapon used to kill Thompson “appears to be a large handgun” similar to a veterinarian gun.
“It’s a weapon commonly used on farms and ranches. If you have to kill an animal, you can shoot the animal without making a lot of noise,” Kenney explained Friday.
Sources said the weapon appears to be a modernized version of a World War II-style gun known as the Wellrod. The modern version of this firearm is known as the VP-9 or Station 6.
Investigators traveled to Connecticut to determine the source of the murder weapon, but leads proved to be a dead end, officials told the Post.
Officials said authorities are investigating how many of these weapons were sold.
The law enforcement official’s comments were echoed by retired New York City police lieutenant John Monahan, who called the gun a “unique weapon” in an interview with CNN on Saturday.
“When he fires, the next thing that happens is he tries to fire a second shot and the gun jams. That’s not going to happen,” Monahan said as surveillance footage of the killing played on a screen. .
Darin Porcher, a former New York City police lieutenant who also appeared on the show, said the gun appeared to be a 9mm.
Thompson, 50, was shot at 6:44 a.m. as he approached an investor event at the Hilton Midtown without any security.
The search for the culprit has entered its fourth day.
