The words “denial,” “defense,” and “banish” were written on the shell casings found at the scene where a masked gunman shot and killed the CEO of United Healthcare in front of a downtown New York City hotel. An enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed this to NBC News on Thursday.
Brian Thompson, 50, was killed in a “premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” outside the New York Hilton Midtown on 6th Avenue in central Manhattan, police said.
She was on her way to speak at a UnitedHealth Group investor conference when a gunman, who had been waiting for several minutes, approached her from behind and shot her at least once in the back and at least once in her right calf, Police Chief Jessica said. Tish said. Wednesday’s press conference.
Police say the gunman’s motive is not yet known, but he is still at large.
ABC News first reported the writing on the cartridges.
Thompson traveled without any personal security detail, despite known threats against him.
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“There have been some threats,” Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News on Wednesday. “Basically I don’t know, is there a lack of reporting? I don’t know the details. All I know is that he said there were people threatening him. That’s all.”
Security video showed Thompson walking down the street wearing a blue suit. It was revealed that a man with a gun approached him from behind and opened fire. Mr. Thompson stumbled forward as witnesses ran to safety. The gunman continued firing as Thompson fell to the ground, the video showed.
“The suspect then walked toward the victim and continued firing the gun. It appears that the gun malfunctioned while unclogging the victim and began firing again,” said Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney.
Thompson was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.
“The motive for this murder is unknown at this time, but based on the evidence we have so far, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted,” Kenney told reporters. “But at this point we don’t know why.”
Before the shooting, the gunman bought a water bottle and two protein bars at a nearby Starbucks and disposed of them, according to a New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
Investigators said they found video showing where the man dumped the items, which police collected as evidence in hopes of aiding the investigation.
Former FBI Supervisor Rob D’Amico said Wednesday that Thompson’s killing had all the elements of a personal vendetta tied to the victim’s company.
D’Amico said anyone could find the high-class business figure’s whereabouts with a few quick Google searches. UnitedHealthcare’s website lists an investor conference scheduled for Wednesday, but does not say where.
“Even a layperson can see that there is so much information on the Internet these days, and people are putting so much information out there,” said Damico, now a security consultant.
UnitedHealth Group’s current and former executives do not receive regular company-funded personal security services, according to the company’s two recent proxy statements. Companies must report security costs for directors or executive officers that exceed $10,000 per year.
Two of UnitedHealthcare’s peers, Humana and Cigna, both said in their latest proxy statements that they provide personal security to their executives. However, SEC records do not reveal which executives received this protection or how much of that protection was spent.
Another health insurance giant, CVS Health, requires its CEO to use a company aircraft and company driver as part of a disclosed “executive security program,” according to regulatory filings. .
