UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: ‘Net tightening’ on suspect as ‘Monopoly money’ found in Central Park backpack
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer may have left the city, police said, after investigators recovered the suspect’s backpack in Central Park
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
A manhunt continues for the masked gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel as police uncover more evidence that is potentially linked to the suspect of interest.
Investigators uncovered a backpack in Central Park that is believed to have belonged to the suspected shooter late Friday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday “the net is tightening” around the suspect.
Meanwhile, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN that investigators have a “huge amount of evidence” in their search for the suspect.
This includes DNA evidence, fingerprints and a “massive camera canvass” of the suspect’s movements, Tisch told the outlet.
Police have video of the man entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal after fleeing the scene of the shooting on a bicycle, but no video of him exiting, leading them to believe he left the city, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN.
The gunman was masked during the shooting and used a fake New Jersey ID to book a room at the HI New York City Hostel, but pulled down the covering during a flirty exchange with a clerk. Police say he arrived in New York after taking a Grayhound bus that originated in Atlanta, Georgia last month.
Who is Brian Thompson? Everything we know about UnitedHealthcare CEO murdered in Manhattan
Three cryptic words were carved into bullets used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
The unanswered questions: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder leaves trail of unknowns
‘I wanted to convey the rage’: Folk singer goes viral with song about Brian Thompson killing
Several insurance companies pulled down executive biography webpages after Brian Thompson killing
Days after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was killed in Manhattan, major health insurance companies are removing information about their top executives from their websites.
Read more:
Several insurance giants yank leadership webpages after Brian Thompson gunned down
Health insurance giants appear taking steps to protect their executives as UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer remains at large
New York CEO shooting map: Movements of gunman who killed Brian Thompson
See the mapped movements of the gunman suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from The Independent’s James Liddell:
New York CEO shooting mapped: Movements of Brian Thompson gunman
With the gunman’s identity unknown and the motive still a mystery, authorities are trying to piece together the killer’s movements that morning – and where he went next
UnitedHealthcare parent company’s CEO warns employees not to speak to media, promises heightened security
Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s parent company UnitedHealth Group, warned employees to not speak to the media in the wake of Brian Thompson’s death, reporter Ken Klippenstein reports.
“I’d like to give you a little bit of advice around the media,” Witty said in an address to employees, according to a recording shared by Klippenstein.
“My strong advice and request to everybody is just don't engage with the media,” Witty added. “If you're approached, I would recommend not responding and, if necessary, simply refer them to our own media organization.”
He also addressed employee concerns about safety, according to another portion of the recording shared by CNN.
“I know people are nervous around security and safety, and you will be seeing during the rest of the day, over the weekend and next week, a continued hardening of our security defenses on site across the country,” Witty said.
The Daily Show divides viewers with jokes about murdered healthcare CEO
The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng became the first late-night host to joke about the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
During Thursday (December 5) night’s edition of the Comedy Central talk show, guest host Chieng, 39, addressed “the story that everyone is talking about.”
“A manhunt continues for a man accused of carrying out a targeted hit on a health insurance CEO, and investigators have been finding clues in surprising places,” he said, going on to show a compilation of different news segments discussing the words “deny, defend and depose” carved into the bullets used to kill Thompson.
Continue reading:
The Daily Show divides viewers with jokes about murdered healthcare CEO
Host’s comments joined the overall light-hearted reaction to the CEO’s death on social media
Suspect could be ‘disgruntled’ employee or client, police say
Police are coming closer to identifying the motive behind the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“It could possibly be a disgruntled employee or a disgruntled client,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
Investigators say the suspect has likely left New York City.
NYC Mayor says ‘net is tightening’ on suspect
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said “the net is tightening” around the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Adams said law enforcement officials do not want to release the suspect’s name at this time.
“If we do, we are basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all,” Adams said. “Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask. We revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and we’re going to bring him to justice.”
ICYMI: Three cryptic words were carved into bullets used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Suspect may have used veterinary gun, police say
Police say the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have used a veterinary gun in the Wednesday shooting, according to NYPD Chief Detective Joseph Kenny.
Veterinary guns are larger guns used by farmers to put down animals without making a loud noise.
“It’s meant for close-up killing,” CNN’s Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said. “It’s meant for vets to kill an animal by shooting it in the head or somewhere, you know, that’s going to be fatal. But it would work the exact same way on humans, very effectively and extraordinarily quietly.”
US border patrol on lookout for suspect
Police have briefed US border patrol agents at both borders to keep an eye out for the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, CNN reports.
Investigators believe the suspect left New York City via bus after they found security footage of him entering Port Authority Bus Terminal, but did not find footage of him leaving.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect.
FBI offers $50,000 reward for information on suspect
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now assisting New York police with their search for the man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday.
The agency is now offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. The New York Police Department also offered $10,000 for information.
