Cops are yet to confirm a motive for the shock slaying of America’s biggest health insurance CEO in New York City – but the killer left behind a trail of overt clues.
The mystery murderer remains on the loose after gunning down UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson early Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan.
Ammunition found near the 50-year-old executive’s body bore the words ‘delay,’ ‘deny’ and ‘depose’, mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics.
Meanwhile, cops found Monopoly money inside the killer’s backpack in Central Park. Online sleuths have dug into the message he may have been hoping to convey.
‘This money must symbolize the monopoly UHC has created with its over 150 subsidies comprising pharmacies, hospitals, hospice, and insurance,’ one Reddit user wrote, prompting widespread agreement from hundreds of others.
‘Wait are we sure this ain’t Banksy?! The Monopoly money is making this all sound like the greatest performance art of all time…’ one person said, joining the clamor of voices noting that the shooter left the board game dollars to send a message.
‘He wanted them to find that…’ one person said, while another added: ‘This dude is taunting the police – not only did he intentionally drop the backpack where they would expect, but he hid it while WANTING it to be found.’
The shooting has exposed mass discontent with the US healthcare system, while bringing UnitedHealthcare’s disturbing history of rejecting claims into the spotlight.
The latest images of the alleged killer appear to have been taken inside the taxi which picked him up on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue two minutes after he left Central Park
Cops are yet to confirm a motive for the shock slaying of America’s biggest health insurance CEO in New York City – but the killer left behind a trail of overt clues
Cops found Monopoly money inside the killer’s backpack (pictured) in Central Park. Online sleuths have dug into the message he may have been hoping to convey
In the aftermath of the murder, Americans flooded the internet with their own personal horror stories about being denied crucial treatment, or even losing a loved one due to being unable to cover the cost of essential care.
The Monopoly money may also be a nod towards UnitedHealthcare’s moves to acquire a larger portion of the health insurance industry, giving it a disturbing level of control by potentially squeezing out competition.
In February 2022, the Department of Justice moved to block UnitedHealthcare from acquiring healthcare tech company Change Healthcare Inc, saying the proposed $13 billion transaction would harm competition in commercial health insurance markets.
‘Post-acquisition, United would be able to use its rivals’ information to gain an unfair advantage and harm competition in health insurance markets,’ the DoJ wrote in a press release at the time.
‘The proposed transaction also would eliminate United’s only major rival for first-pass claims editing technology — a critical product used to efficiently process health insurance claims and save health insurers billions of dollars each year — and give United a monopoly share in the market.’
Just last month, the DoJ along with four attorney generals, also filed another civil antitrust lawsuit to block UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group (UHG) from acquiring a rival provider, Amedisys Inc.
‘We are challenging this merger because home health and hospice patients and their families experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives deserve affordable, high quality care options,’ said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in the November 12 release.
‘The Justice Department will not hesitate to check unlawful consolidation and monopolization in the healthcare market that threatens to harm vulnerable patients, their families, and health care workers.’
Brian Thompson (pictured) who had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after the shooting, and he was later pronounced dead
It comes after New York City Mayor Eric Adams implied police might have identified killer in their latest lead – but they’re not releasing his name yet.
When asked on Saturday whether investigators knew the mystery gunman‘s name, Adams said: ‘We don’t want to release that now,’ according to the New York Post.
‘If we do, we are basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all,’ the former NYPD captain added.
‘Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask. We revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and we’re going to bring him to justice… The net is tightening.’
When pressed on Sunday morning about whether police knew the identity of the suspect, NYPD told DailyMail.com: ‘There have been no updates on the case.’
Authorities are investigating the incident as an assassination, while the hunt for the mystery assailant continues beyond New York state lines.
The NYPD released new photographs of the assassin Saturday night. He has been described as white and around 6’1′ tall, but scarce other details have been given.
Police said the killer shot Thompson in the back and leg outside the New York Hilton Midtown on West 54th Street at around 6.45am on Wednesday.
The NYPD released several photographs of the alleged assassin. The suspect, pictured above, has been described as white and around 6’1′ tall, but scarce other details have been given
He fired several shots during the ambush and even jammed his gun in the process, which he managed to clear quickly to continue firing.
The attacker is believed to have used a rare World War Two era-inspired 9mm gun, which the New York Post reported was a Swiss-made Brugger & Thomet VP9.
Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words ‘delay,’ ‘deny’ and ‘depose’, mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics.
The killer fled the scene by riding an electric bike up 6th Avenue towards Central Park, and he was spotted leaving the park at 6.56am.
The latest images of the killer appear to have been taken inside the taxi which picked him up on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue two minutes after he left Central Park.
Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus around 45 minutes after the shooting.
UHG is the nation’s largest health insurance conglomerate. The company expected to bring in revenues of $450 billion in 2025, with Thompson believed to earn a salary in the region of $10million a year.
Thompson, who had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition after the shooting, and he was later pronounced dead.
He had slated to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Hotel on the morning of the shooting.
Flags flew at half-mast at the UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota on Wednesday following the slaying of the executive.
He is survived by his wife Paulette ‘Pauley’ Thompson, 51, and their two children who live in the family’s $1.5 million home in Maple Grove, Minnesota.