Bullets used in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday morning were found to have inscriptions on them.
According to New York City Police, the shell casings recovered from the crime scene in New York City bore the words “deny,” “defend,” and possibly “depose.” Authorities are currently investigating whether these markings might be connected to a motive related to insurance companies and their claims practices.
Thompson, 50, was shot and killed outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan early Wednesday morning in what New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called a “premeditated, targeted attack.”
On Thursday, the NYPD released images of the suspect and is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
🚨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
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 5, 2024
While a motive has not been confirmed, police are examining whether the shooting could be connected to grievances against UnitedHealthcare or its business practices. Thompson’s widow, Paulette Thompson, revealed told NBC News that he had received threats, possibly related to insurance claim denials. Law enforcement is also investigating whether the attack was perpetrated by a disgruntled individual or a group with specific grievances.
The killing has fueled a wave of commentary on social media, much of it directed at UnitedHealthcare and the broader insurance industry. Many posts criticized the company’s claim denials and rising healthcare costs, with some commenters expressing a lack of sympathy for Thompson’s death. UnitedHealthcare has since disabled comments on its public social media posts following a flood of negative responses.
The shooting has coincided with debates about insurance company policies. Just a day after Thompson’s death, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed a controversial plan to limit anesthesia coverage after backlash from medical professionals. The policy would have denied claims for anesthesia exceeding specific time limits, which anesthesiologists argued ignored the complexities of patient care.
