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Police find bullet casings inscribed with cryptic words in Midtown CEO's shooting death
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Charles Lane
Published Dec 5, 2024
Modified Dec 5, 2024
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José A. Alvarado Jr. / Gothamist
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Charles Lane
Published Dec 5, 2024
Modified Dec 5, 2024
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Cryptic words were scrawled on shell casings recovered at the Midtown scene where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed on Wednesday, NYPD officials confirmed on Thursday morning.
The shooting took place outside a Midtown Hilton hotel where Thompson had planned to attend an investor conference. Police officials said they executed a search warrant at another nearby hotel where Thompson was staying. Police also said they were visiting hostels on the Upper East and Upper West Sides as part of their investigation.
The police officials did not say how many shell casings the NYPD recovered, but confirmed reports that they included the terms “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” Police couldn't provide any more details on what was written.
The words on the bullet casings could provide some insight into the motive of the shooter, who officials said carried out a targeted, premeditated attack against the 50-year-old executive outside the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel on Sixth Avenue, where UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference was due to be held on Wednesday.
These are the first images police have released of the man they're seeking in connection with an insurance CEO's death in which the man is unmasked.
Courtesy of the NYPD
Several online forum users noted the similarity to the name of the 2010 book “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It,” by Jay M. Feinman.
At the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side on Thursday morning, guests said police had come by earlier to investigate, though the guests didn’t know what the officers were looking into at the time.
“They were all going up to the fourth floor. They were quite chill,” said Alice Brooks, who was visiting from the United Kingdom. “We didn’t really think anything of it, to be honest.”
An NYPD flier posted on a street pole outside the hostel advertised an up to $10,000 reward for information that could lead to the suspect's arrest.
Police on Thursday also released new images of a man they said was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. They were first images to show the man without a mask. Police did not immediately say when or where those images were captured.
Police had yet to arrest or charge a suspect as of Thursday morning. Police said the shooter was last seen on Wednesday morning riding an e-bike in Central Park, and added that they were scrutinizing surveillance video in the area and using dozens of drones to try to track his movements.
This is a developing story based on preliminary police information and has been updated.
Tagged
new york city
manhattan
public safety
midtown
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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