Police are investigating whether the weapon used to kill United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a “veterinary-grade” gun commonly used to euthanize animals, New York City police officials said. That's what it means.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said the weapon used to kill Thompson “appears to be a large handgun” similar to a veterinarian gun.
“It's a weapon commonly used on farms and ranches. If you have to kill an animal, you can shoot the animal without making a lot of noise,” Kenney explained Friday.
The law enforcement official's comments were echoed by former NYPD Lt. John Monahan, who called the gun a “unique weapon” during the incident. CNN interview Saturday.
“When he fires, the next thing that happens is he tries to fire a second shot and the gun jams. That's not going to happen,” Monahan said as surveillance footage of the killing played on a screen. .
“He fires a shot, racks the slide, then fires a second time, then racks the slide. Then the gun jams and I see him struggling to clear it. ”
“So that gun is made to be racked every time it fires. It's a very unique weapon. The length of the barrel in the video there suggests it could be an animal pistol. You can see it's the highest,'' Monaghan told CNN hosts Caitlan Collins and Mark Morales.
Darrin Porcher, a former New York City police lieutenant who also appeared on the show, said the gun appeared to be 9mm long.
Thompson, 50, was shot at 6:44 a.m. as he approached an investor event at the Hilton Midtown without any security.
The search for the culprit has entered its fourth day.
