Yesterday, police released the image of a smiling person of interest in Wednesday’s fatal UnitedHealthcare shooting, which an official has now called a “flirtatious moment.”
On Wednesday morning around 6:45 a.m., the CEO of one of America’s largest providers of health insurance UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot on his way to a conference. Brian Thompson was killed outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan, and as of Friday morning, the suspect remains at large.
Thompson was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Police released a series of images of the suspect later on Wednesday, showing a man wearing a jacket with a hood and a mask covering his mouth and nose. He was carrying a grey backpack.
On Thursday, police released photos of a man they called a “person of interest,” who appeared to be smiling in one of the images. The photo was reportedly taken when the man was staying at the HI New York City Hostel, according to ABC News.
A female employee at the hostel reportedly asked the man to lower his mask, per CNN. When he lowers the mast, he “gives that big smile,” said CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller.
“That little flirtation between the two of them, in some good-humoured way, actually yielded what is so far the most significant clue to identifying him,” said Miller.
The suspect arrived in New York City 10 days before shooting: police
Police believe that the suspect arrived in New York 10 days before the shooting by taking a Greyhound bus, CNN reported. It is not known where he boarded the bus, but the route started in Atlanta, police sources told the publication. If the suspect boarded in Atlanta, the trip would have taken a minimum of roughly 17 hours depending on the route, according to Greyhound’s website.
What we know about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shot in targeted attack outside N.Y.C. hotel
Upon arriving in New York City on Nov. 24, the suspect checked into the hostel. He checked out on Nov. 29, but checked back in the following day, sources said. He reportedly roomed with two other men during his stay.
He checked into the hostel using a fake driver’s license from New Jersey, the Daily Beast reported, and paid in cash. The suspect’s whereabouts prior to Wednesday’s shooting suggest he may have known about the conference, per the Daily Beast.
Manhunt continues as police test items from scene
As the manhunt for the suspect continues, police are testing items left near the scene, such as a protein bar wrapper and a bottle of water, for DNA and fingerprints, the Associated Press reported. They are being tested by the city’s medical examiner.
Although police have not revealed a motive, shell casings on the street outside of the Hilton had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” inscribed on them, multiple publications like CNN and ABC News reported.
On Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was confident the shooter would be apprehended, he told television station WPIX, AP reported.
“We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” said Adams.
UnitedHealth Group is ‘heartbroken,’ removes photos of execs from website
In a statement, UnitedHealth Group said it was “heartbroken,” per AP.
“We have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said.
Photos of executives from UnitedHealthcare were removed from its website, AP reported. The site later removed the names of the executives as well as their biographies. Another health care company, American retail giant CVS, also removed executives’ biographies and photos, the company confirmed to Fox Business. Digital media company 404 reported that health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield followed suit, as did other companies in similar fields, such as Caresource, Medica and Elevance Health.
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