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The shocking murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning has garnered national attention, with many speculating about the motivation behind the shooting and whether it was a professional hit job.
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Law enforcement and criminal behavior experts have chimed in on the case, dismissing the notion that the shooter was a hired professional, according to a New York Times report. Instead, they suggest that the suspect likely had a personal motivation.
For starters, those interviewed for the article acknowledged that the shooter showed a level of proficiency with firearms but lacked the common hallmarks of a professional hit man. “In terms of a professional hit man, that seems unlikely. It would be very hard to get somebody to do something like this. It’s very high risk,” said David Shapiro, a former FBI agent and a criminal justice professor at John Jay College.
Dennis Kenney, another professor at John Jay College, pointed to how the shooter carried out the act, suggesting a lack of professionalism.
“I mean, the whole problem is doing the whole thing in Midtown Manhattan, even though it’s in the morning,” said Dennis Kenney. Not only are there “cameras everywhere,” he said, “there’s too much of a possibility of other people intervening, of a cop happening to walk by.”
He also brought up the suspect’s flawed escape. “That’s not much of a plan — on a bicycle. Even an electric bicycle,” he said.
Michael C. Farkas, a former New York City homicide prosecutor, stated that the killer “clearly wanted to send a message, and he is trying to get away” and that “he planned this as meticulously as his abilities allow.”
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Nevertheless, Farkas further speculated that the suspect is “probably intelligent enough to know the odds of evading capture indefinitely are not in his favor.”
New Pics, Video of Healthcare CEO Killer, Chilling Words Written on the Bullets
The shooter left behind a trail of evidence, including bullet casings with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” inscribed on them along with a cellphone. He was also caught on surveillance cameras on several occasions. In one instance, he removed his mask and was smiling when a coffee shop worker flirted with him.
The experts suggested that the motive behind the shooting was personal and possibly tied to grievances many Americans have with insurance companies.
“On Thursday, when authorities revealed that the bullet casings collected at the scene were scrawled with ‘delay,’ ‘deny,’ and other words, they did not suggest the meaning of the messages. But some experts wondered if the shooting could have been motivated by frustration over common problems people have with health insurers.”
The terms inscribed on the casings could be a reference to tactics many insurance companies use to avoid paying claims.
Former police investigator Gary Jenkins concurred with this theory, saying it was likely “somebody that has an ax to grind.”
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During a Wednesday press conference, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tish described the shooting as a “brazen, targeted attack.” She affirmed that the incident “does not appear to be a random act of violence.” She described how “Many people passed the suspect but he appeared to wait for his intended target.”
Authorities Give Details on ‘Targeted’ Killing of Healthcare CEO Outside His Manhattan Hotel
The police responded to a 911 call about a shooting in front of the Hilton Hotel on Avenue of the Americas at about 6:46 a.m. They arrived minutes later to find Thompson wounded on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.
After firing multiple shots, the suspect fled north on foot and later obtained an e-bike, and disappeared into Central Park.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated post-publication to clarify the words inscribed on the bullets.
