Words Reportedly Written on Bullet Casings Tied to CEO's Killing Echo Scathing Phrase About Insurance Industry

Mar. 15, 2025

Bullet casings found at the scene where UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompsonwasfatally shotin New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 4, reportedly had words written on them that bore a resemblance to a phrase about the insurance industry.

As authorities continue to search for the masked killer, police sources toldABC Newsthat the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on bullet casings. Those words are similar to “delay, deny, defend” — a phrase about the insurance industry to describe a strategy of rejecting claims.

According to ABC News, NYPD detectives are working to establish whether the words found on the casing were meant as a message from the shooting suspect and a hint at the shooter’s motive.

The gunman; Brian Thompson.NYPD; UnitedHealth Group

NYPD; UnitedHealth Group

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Wednesday press conference that the gunman deliberately targeted the 50-year-old CEO in a “brazen, targeted attack.” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny added the gunman appears to be “proficient” in the use of firearms.

Police have saidthe suspect fled in the direction of Central Park on an electric Citi Bike after firing at least three shots at Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan just before 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The gunman.NYPD

NYPD

The shooting occurred as Thompson was entering the hotel for an investors' conference, according to NYPD officials, who added that the healthcare executive was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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In an interview withNBC News, Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said he’d been receiving threats prior to the fatal shooting.

“Yes, there had been some threats basically I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details,” she said. “I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

Brian Thompson; Pauley Thompson.UnitedHealth Group;Facebook

UnitedHealth Group;Facebook

According to a bio on UnitedHealthcare’s company’s website, Thompson was named CEO of the company in April 2021 and joined the company in 2004. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said in aWednesday statementmourning his death.

The suspect is described as a male with light skin, wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a “very distinctive grey backpack,” police officials previously said. Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

In apost on X, formerly Twitter, the NYPD shared three photos of the partially-masked suspect and urged anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect to contact police at 1-800-577-TIPS.

source: people.com