New York– UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was more than 24 hours later Shot outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown ManhattanA citywide search for his killer is underway.
Detectives are examining his electronics to see if he posed any threat, and they say the gunman may have left important clues.
CBS News has confirmed what law enforcement officials say The words “deny,” “defend,” and “remove” were written on the shell casings. Which were recovered at the spot. Authorities say they are investigating whether the words point to a motive, possibly related to insurance companies' response to claims.
Video shows open firing outside Hilton Midtown
Surveillance video captured the brazen and targeted attack Wednesday morning.
A masked shooter using a silencer approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the back and leg. The weapon appeared to jam, but the suspect cleared it and continued firing.
After this the gunman went running on the road in front of the eyewitnesses.
One witness said, “I was looking at my phone when I heard a gunshot. And when I looked, there was this guy with a gun, like a dumb gun.”
thompson, 50 year old father of two childrenHilton was visiting Midtown to address investors at the UnitedHealthcare conference.
NYPD is now working with Officer in Minnesota, where he's fromTo identify any specific threats against him. Police sources say detectives have uncovered comments targeting the company, but there is no threat to their personal safety.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “Several people passed by the suspect, but it appeared he was waiting for his intended target.” said at a press conference on Wednesday“Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”
The search operation took the police to Central Park
CBS News New York
Investigators believe that Hilton The suspect boarded a bike and drove toward Central ParkVideo obtained by CBS News shows him leaving the park on West 85th Street about 15 minutes after the shooting.
CBS News law enforcement contributor Richard Esposito, a former deputy commissioner of the NYPD, said, “We're looking at a gunman who was deliberate and prepared, took action, and started by shooting the person in the back. ”
Police said the suspect planned carefully, but not perfectly. Before the shooting he went to a nearby Starbucks, where sources say surveillance images may have captured enough of his face for facial recognition.
“The New York City Police Department's thorough investigative efforts are well underway, and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case,” Tisch said.
Police sources say investigators are conducting forensic testing on a water bottle and candy bar wrapper they believe the suspect left at the Starbucks, as well as a discarded cellphone found near the scene .
A law enforcement source said he paid in cash at 6:17 a.m., about 30 minutes before the shooting.
“A wonderful man with a big heart.”
Thompson arrived in the city from Minnesota on Monday and was scheduled to address investors at the company's annual investor relations conference. Top executives immediately canceled the shareholders' meeting.
“The company is just distraught, their associates are distraught,” said Taylor Smith, who lives at the Hilton.
Investigators are now examining every aspect of Thompson's life to determine a motive.
“They're going to look at the business end, you have a company that has laid off people. They're going to look at individual stories, and they're going to focus on the letters, the desperate people who didn't get care or testing. Or something that could have saved someone's life or that blames the company,'' said former NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller.
The 50-year-old man was married and had two sons. His wife, Paulette, spoke about the family's loss.
“Brian was a wonderful man with a big heart who lived life to the fullest,” he said. “He will be greatly missed by everyone. Our hearts are broken and heartbroken by this news.”
The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward in the case, and is asking the public to call the Crime Stoppers hotline. 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)Or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip through their websiteAll calls are kept confidential.
Contributed to this report.
