Unidentified UnitedHealthcare CEO Assassin Tracked to Bus Terminal
NEW YORK – The masked gunman wanted in connection with the ambush shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Wednesday morning fled the crime scene using various modes of transportation before police believe he got on a bus out of the Big Apple, authorities told Fox News.
Police traced his route from the crime scene near 54th Street and Sixth Avenue up to Central Park, which he exited at 77th Street and Central Park West, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told Fox News Friday.
Police Uncover a Puzzle of Clues
Kenny’s supervisor, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, emphasized that investigators now possess a wealth of video and digital evidence, alongside physical clues, that they hope will lead them to the individual responsible.
“We have a tremendous amount of forensic evidence in this case that we’ve collected—DNA, fingerprint evidence, all currently being processed in the lab,” she shared with Fox News Friday.
The evidence could include a drink sample discarded by the suspect at the crime scene and a burner phone found just moments away.
After walking with a bicycle to Columbus Avenue, he abandoned it for a taxi, which then took him to an uptown bus terminal. Investigators managed to capture video of the suspect entering the terminal roughly an hour post-murder.
Visibly unusual, he entered Central Park with a backpack, but left without it, leading the NYPD to dedicate much of Friday to uncovering further evidence. Remarkably, they discovered the backpack over the weekend, reportedly filled with Monopoly money, and sent dive teams to search nearby ponds.
Call to the Public for Help
Authorities have launched an interstate manhunt for the suspect, who remains unnamed. The enigma surrounding him continues to grow.
Kenny revealed that the suspect had arrived in New York approximately ten days before Thompson’s death. The individual is thought to have traveled on a Greyhound bus originating from Atlanta the day before Thanksgiving. Upon arrival, he checked into a local hostel on the Upper West Side, employing a fake ID and cash for payment. Fortunately, police managed to retrieve an unmasked image of the suspect from a surveillance camera positioned in the lobby area.
The community is left in a state of hesitation. “Our aim is to provide closure to the family and seek justice. However, people need to recognize this isn’t a crime drama,” Kenny explained. “We won’t resolve this in sixty minutes. Doing this properly will require significant effort. Ultimately, this case will go before a judge and jury. We need to connect the dots, and we will achieve an arrest.”
Although it’s premature to speculate on a motive, Kenny remarked on potential clues left behind by the perpetrator. “We are not committing to any theories at this time. However, given the writing style and the victim’s employment, it’s possible this was a disgruntled worker or unsatisfied client—but at this moment, we won’t rule anything out.”
The perpetrator abandoned shell casings, each inscribed with the words “depose,” “deny,” and “defend.” Interestingly, this wording resonates with the title of a book that many clients view as a critique of insurance practices: “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” Speculation suggests that bitter feelings surrounding a denied claim could have been a catalyst for the violent act.
Furthermore, Kenny posited that a significant data breach earlier in the year—which reportedly affected 100 million Americans—could factor into the suspect’s motivations. Following such events, many individuals faced dreadful hardships, both personal and financial.
Moreover, residents have further grievances against UnitedHealthcare, as Kelly pointed out.
A class action lawsuit alleges routine wrongful care denials for elderly patients entitled to benefits under Medicare Advantage plans. Allegations highlight that oversight was often executed by an AI model, which, ironically, has a staggering 90% error rate.
“Even with such faultiness, Defendants persistently use their flawed AI model for claims denial, knowing that only a minuscule percentage of policyholders (approximately 0.2%) will contest a denied claim. The majority of clients often bear out-of-pocket expenses or abandon their necessary post-acute care,” the lawsuit contends.
The ongoing civil case mirrors the continuous quest for the elusive killer. The NYPD offers a $10,000 reward in this haunting case, imploring the public to reach out to the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through their website, reinforcing the level of confidentiality extended to all calls.
