Shell casings were recovered at the scene of the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday, New York City police said.impudent” and “Planned and pre-planned targeted attacks” — apparently inscribed with language referring to tactics used to deny health insurance claims.
NBC News reported Three live 9mm bullets and three fired 9mm shell casings were found at the scene. Two law enforcement officials said: The New York Times said: Police are investigating apparent messages written on the casings, specifically words such as “delay” and “denial,” which are a way for health insurance companies to try to avoid paying claims for patients. may indicate.
“Threatening patients with financial penalties if they make the wrong decision can have a chilling effect on their willingness to seek emergency care.”
of Published in New York Post A similar report noted that sources said live ammunition and cartridges were inscribed with words such as “reject,” “exile,” and “defense.” The paper added that the word is similar to the main title of the 2010 film. book“Delays, Denials, and Defenses: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” CBS News announced video report We are discussing the words that are clearly inscribed.
The Times added that patients, lawmakers and others: was heavily criticized UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, denied the patient's claim.
of Associated Press reported. Thompson made headlines in 2021 when UnitedHealthcare was criticized for intending to refuse to pay “for visits it deems non-emergency to hospital emergency rooms,” “like our competitors.”
“Patients are not medical professionals and should not self-diagnose what they believe is a medical emergency,” the American Hospital Association's chief executive said in an open letter to Thompson, according to the Associated Press. They shouldn't be expected to do that.” “Threatening patients with financial penalties for making poor decisions can have a chilling effect on their willingness to seek emergency care.” The Associated Press reports that United Healthcare may delay rolling out the changes He said he had responded.
Thompson's wife said he had received “threats” after the shooting. paulette thompson told NBC News On the phone, she said, “There were some threats.Basically I don't know, but maybe I didn't do enough interviews?I don't know the details.What I do know is that there were some people who threatened him.'' That's just what I said.''
separate New York Post article — Quote Wall Street Journal report — added that for years, Thompson, 50, and his wife lived in separate homes less than a mile from each other in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
of It was also reported in the post At the time of the murder, Thompson was under investigation by the Justice Department on suspicion of insider trading.
What else do we know?
Police continue to search for the shooting suspect. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect appeared to have ambushed Thompson for several minutes. CBS News reportedThe NYPD official added that the suspect's arrival outside the Hilton before Mr. Thompson indicated he knew about the CEO's comings and goings.
More from CBS News:
Police are using surveillance camera footage to determine how the suspect spent the hours before the shooting. NYPD officials said the suspect was captured on surveillance video outside near the Frederick Douglass housing project on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5 a.m. Wednesday, about two hours before the attack. Police executed search warrants on buildings in the area Wednesday night. Police said they believe the suspect may have been there the night before the attack.
Police also released surveillance images showing the suspect at a Starbucks two blocks from the shooting scene at 6:17 a.m., half an hour before the shooting. Police told CBS News they found unspecified “forensic evidence” at the Starbucks, and items recovered there are being tested for possible DNA and fingerprints by the NYPD Crime Scene Unit. . Police said the suspect paid in cash.
Police said the suspect was waiting for Thompson, who left the hotel shortly after 6:40 a.m. and headed to the Hilton across the street, according to CBS News. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said police were speaking with Thompson's colleagues to understand why he went to the hotel so early in the morning, but that Thompson was in charge of the meeting there. , admitted that he may have been there to help with the preparations.
The suspect allegedly approached Thompson from behind at 6:44 a.m. and shot her at least once in the back and once in the right calf, CBS News said, adding that security cameras captured the moment of the shooting.
A wanted poster for the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on December 4, 2024. Photo credit: Alex Kent/Getty Images
According to NBC News“The gunman then walked toward the victim and continued firing the gun. It appears the gun malfunctioned when he unclogged it and began firing again,” Kenney said at a news conference Wednesday.
The suspect was initially described as a white male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black sneakers with white trim, carrying a gray backpack, and was using a firearm with a silencer. He was described as a person who was knowledgeable about. told CNBC. Kenney later told CBS News the suspect was wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket and the backpack was “very distinctive.”
X More Images Posted in NYPD News here show the suspect, here Indicates “person of interest”.
Get Thursday morning's report from CBS News here The investigation into Thompson's murderer continues.
This story has been updated.
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