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The gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday is believed to have traveled to New York Metropolis on a Greyhound bus 10 days earlier than the killing because the manhunt for the suspected shooter enters its fifth day.
Thompson, 50, a father of two, was shot at point-blank vary close to the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday morning simply earlier than a scheduled investor assembly.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned Saturday “the web is tightening” across the suspect after police discovered a backpack they consider belonged to the shooter in Central Park late Friday. This weekend, MSNBC reported that the backpack contained Monopoly cash and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, however no weapon.
New York Police Division divers additionally searched a Central Park pond for the suspect’s firearm on Saturday, simply earlier than officers launched new pictures of the suspect getting right into a taxi.
Adams added that legislation enforcement officers don’t wish to launch the suspect’s title at the moment.
“If we do, we’re principally giving a tip to the particular person we’re searching for and we don’t wish to give him an higher hand in any respect,” Adams mentioned.
Right here’s every thing we all know up to now concerning the deadly assault on the 50-year-old insurance coverage CEO:
Thompson shot in ‘premeditated assault’
The unidentified shooter had been hiding behind a automobile exterior the Hilton resort in Midtown Manhattan for about 5 minutes when Thompson exited, police mentioned. The suspect was noticed at a close-by Starbucks on West 56th Avenue and sixth Avenue shortly earlier than the taking pictures.
The shooter, who was sporting a masks, approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the correct calf and again at 6:46 a.m. Video of the incident reveals the shooter calmly strolling up behind Thompson earlier than taking pictures him, then calmly crossing the road. The footage additionally confirmed a bystander operating away because the suspect opened fireplace.
“The shooter then walks towards the sufferer and continues to shoot. It seems that the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fireside once more,” New York Police Division’s Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny informed reporters.
Thompson was pronounced useless at a close-by hospital.
Police described the shooter as a white man sporting a black hoodie and black pants with a grey backpack. Police introduced Friday they discovered what seems to be that very same backpack in Central Park.
The suspect might have used a veterinary gun, in accordance with Kenny. Veterinary weapons are bigger weapons utilized by farmers to place down animals with out making a loud noise.
“It’s meant for close-up killing,” CNN’s Chief Regulation Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller mentioned of veterinary weapons. “It’s meant for vets to kill an animal by taking pictures it within the head or someplace, you understand, that’s going to be deadly. However it might work the very same means on people, very successfully and terribly quietly.”
The shooter fled the scene by means of an alleyway on an e-bike. He biked by way of Sixth Avenue to Central Park. Quickly afterward, safety footage reveals the suspect getting into the Port Authority Bus Terminal, police mentioned. Nevertheless, they didn’t discover footage of him leaving, indicating he might have left town on a bus.
Police have briefed US border patrol brokers at each borders to maintain an eye fixed out for the suspect, CNN experiences.
The taking pictures was a “premeditated, pre-planned focused assault,” police mentioned late on Wednesday morning. Thompson appeared unaware he was at risk and had no safety element close to him, Kenny informed reporters.
Thompson was within the metropolis to talk on the UnitedHealth Group’s annual Investor Convention on Wednesday.
“Brian was a extremely revered colleague and buddy to all who labored with him,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “Our hearts exit to Brian’s household and all who have been near him.”
On Thursday, police launched photos of the suspect together with his masks pulled down. The pictures got here from a surveillance video on the New York Metropolis hostel the place the suspect was staying.
New clues emerge as manhunt heads into fifth day
As of Saturday afternoon, new clues have emerged as police proceed to piece collectively info concerning the suspected assailant’s whereabouts earlier than the CEO was fatally shot.
The armed suspect is reported to have traveled by way of Greyhound bus to New York 10 days earlier than the taking pictures unfolded, in accordance with legislation enforcement sources who spoke to CNN.
Police say he arrived in New York Metropolis on November 24 after leaping on a bus departing from Atlanta however officers haven’t been capable of pinpoint precisely the place he boarded – stating it might have been in Atlanta or elsewhere.
On the day he arrived in New York Metropolis, he was captured on surveillance video stepping off the bus at round 9 p.m. and noticed strolling by means of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, mentioned legislation enforcement sources.
He then checked into an Higher West Aspect hostel, left on November 29, after which used a faux New Jersey ID to examine again in on November 30.
Whereas within the hostel, he slept in a multi-person room with two different males and wore a masks for almost all of his keep, in accordance with CNN. His whereabouts from November 30 to Wednesday morning are nonetheless unclear.
Each Greyhound and the hostel’s mother or father firm, Hostelling Worldwide USA, informed ABC Information in an announcement that they’re “totally cooperating with the NYPD” however can’t remark additional because of the lively investigation.
Authorities discovered three stay 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings, in addition to a mobile phone, on the scene of the taking pictures. Additionally they recovered a sweet wrapper and water bottle believed to belong to the suspect, in accordance with ABC Information.
New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch informed CNN on Friday that investigators have a “enormous quantity of proof” of their search, together with DNA proof, fingerprints and a “huge digicam canvass” of the suspect’s actions.
The bullet casings police discovered on the scene had the phrases “deny”, “defend” and “depose” written on them.
A 2020 e book by Jay Feinman concerning the insurance coverage business bears an identical title: Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance coverage Firms Do not Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. The e book describes itself as an “expose of insurance coverage injustice and a plan for shoppers and lawmakers to combat again”.
Feinman didn’t remark when contacted by The Impartial.
Spouse reveals Thompson obtained threats as police seek for motive
Thompson’s spouse, Paulette Thompson, informed NBC Information within the hours after her taking pictures her husband obtained threats previous to his killing. UnitedHealth Group was conscious of regarding threats in opposition to its executives, CNN reported.
“There had been some threats,” she informed the outlet. “Principally, I don’t know, an absence of [health insurance] protection? I don’t know particulars. I simply know that he mentioned there have been some people who had been threatening him.”
A motive within the taking pictures has not been launched, however some have speculated that with the reported messages on the bullets that it’s tied to Thompson’s function in medical insurance.
The NYPD Crime Stoppers are providing a $10,000 reward for info. The FBI has additionally joined the investigation, providing $50,000 for info.
Household and leaders mourn CEO
Thompson’s relations are in mourning as they course of the information.
Thompson’s sister Elena Reveiz informed The New York Occasions that her brother was a “good particular person, and I’m so unhappy.”
His brother Mark beforehand informed The Impartial he was not but able to touch upon the scenario.
“Brian was an extremely loving, beneficiant, proficient man who actually lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” Thompson’s household mentioned in an announcement to Minnesota information outlet KARE. “We respect your condolences and request full privateness as our household strikes by means of this tough time,” the assertion continued.
Thompson is a father of two. Earlier than taking the CEO job in 2021, he labored as the corporate’s head of presidency applications. As CEO, Thompson labored out of UnitedHealthcare’s workplaces in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Faux bomb threats have been made in opposition to two properties, one owned by Thompson and the opposite owned by his spouse, shortly after he was shot on Wednesday.
The 2 properties, that are lower than a mile aside in Maple Grove, Minnesota, have been focused on Wednesday night, The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported. The menace was despatched by way of e-mail to a number of individuals who then notified police. Thompson and his spouse had been residing in separate properties in Maple Grove for years, The Wall Avenue Journal experiences.
The threats weren’t credible and regarded an occasion of “swatting,” police mentioned.
“No units or suspicious objects have been positioned throughout the investigation,” a Maple Grove police spokesperson mentioned in an announcement. ”The case is taken into account an lively investigation, whereas the incident seems to be a hoax.”
Thompson stored a low profile with little public title recognition, the Related Press reported.
Thompson was additionally named in a lawsuit filed by a Florida pension fund earlier this yr accusing UnitedHealth of hiding an antitrust investigation by the Justice Division from shareholders whereas insiders bought inventory, in accordance with the Journal. Thompson had not answered the claims in court docket earlier than Wednesday’s taking pictures.
Beneath his management, UnitedHealthcare offered protection to greater than 49 million folks, making it the biggest insurance coverage firm within the US. The community consists of 1.3 million physicians and care professionals throughout practically 7,000 amenities.
Beneath Thompson, the corporate made $74 billion in income in the newest quarter, incomes the title of the biggest subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. Thompson made $10.2 million yearly and was one of many firm’s highest-paid workers.
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The Impartial
#Brian #Thompson #UnitedHealthcare #CEO #homicide #York #Metropolis
Katie Hawkinson and Madeline Sherratt , 2024-12-09 04:23:00
