Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically killed in a shooting incident outside a Midtown hotel. The unidentified assailant, who is still at large, may have left a puzzling message on the ammunition used in the attack, according to sources within law enforcement. The New York Police Department (NYPD) is currently investigating the potential message, which appears to include the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend,” inscribed on live rounds and spent casings left at the scene by the masked attacker.
The inscribed words, which could be a critique of the health insurance industry where Thompson was a key figure, are strikingly similar to the title of a 2010 book critical of the sector. The book, “Delay, Deny, Defend,” subtitled “Why insurance companies don’t pay claims and what you can do about it,” is being considered as a potential link to the crime. The author, Jay M. Feinman, a distinguished professor emeritus at Rutgers Law School, has declined to comment on the matter.
At the scene outside the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, where Thompson was set to host an investors’ conference, police recovered three live 9-millimeter rounds and three discharged casings. Each piece of evidence reportedly contained a single word, suggesting the killer may have intended to leave a message.
Thompson’s estranged wife, Paulette Thompson, disclosed that the CEO had been receiving threats. She speculated that these threats could be related to his role in the health insurance industry, although she admitted she was not privy to the details.
The shooter, who used a silencer and appeared to be an experienced marksman based on surveillance footage, was seen waiting outside the hotel for Thompson. He fired multiple shots at close range, causing Thompson to stumble and collapse. Despite a jammed gun, the shooter was able to clear it and continue firing as Thompson attempted to crawl away.
The shooter then fled the scene on an e-bike, heading north along Sixth Avenue into Central Park, where surveillance coverage is less comprehensive. However, the suspect may have left behind crucial evidence. He purchased coffee, a water bottle, and two PowerBars at a nearby Starbucks before the killing and discarded his bottle and coffee cup in a trash can, which police have since recovered.
Investigators also found a phone in an alleyway near the Hilton, believed to belong to the killer. A search warrant has been obtained to examine the contents of the phone. This evidence could potentially help determine a motive for the crime.
Thompson, who led the nation’s largest private health insurer, was well-respected in his field. Despite the company’s controversial history of rejecting customers’ claims and a current Department of Justice antitrust investigation, Thompson was a beloved husband and father of two sons in Minnesota. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West Hospital at 7:12 a.m.
UnitedHealthcare has confirmed to investigators that Thompson had received threats, although this is not uncommon for someone in his position at a healthcare company. The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.