Police have yet to confirm a motive for the shocking murder of America’s largest health insurance CEO in New York City, but the killer left a trail of overt clues.
The mysterious killer remains at large after shooting 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,” a phrase used by critics of the insurance industry.
Meanwhile, police found Monopoly money in the killer’s backpack in Central Park. Online sleuths have delved into the message he may have been hoping to convey.
“This money is supposed to symbolize the monopoly that UHC has created with its 150+ subsidies, including pharmacies, hospitals, hospices and insurance,” one Reddit user wrote, prompting widespread agreement from hundreds of others.
‘Wait, are we sure this isn’t Banksy?! The Monopoly money makes this all sound like the greatest performance art of all time…” said one person, joining the screams and noting that the shooter had left the board game dollars behind to send a message.
“He wanted them to find out that…” one person said, while another added: “This guy is defying the police. Not only did he deliberately drop the backpack where they would expect it, but he also hid it when he WANTED it to be found.”
The shooting has exposed mass dissatisfaction with America’s health care system, while UnitedHealthcare’s troubling history of claim denials has been thrust into the spotlight.
The last images of the alleged killer appear to have been taken in the taxi that picked him up at 86th Street and Columbus Avenue, two minutes after he left Central Park.
Police have yet to confirm a motive for the shocking murder of America’s biggest health insurance CEO in New York City — but the killer left a trail of overt clues
Police found Monopoly money in the killer’s backpack (pictured) in Central Park. Online sleuths have delved 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 of being denied crucial treatment, or even losing a loved one because they couldn’t cover the costs of essential care.
The Monopoly money may also be a nod to UnitedHealthcare’s attempts to take over a larger share of the health insurance industry, giving it a troubling level of control by potentially squeezing out competition.
In February 2022, the Justice Department moved to block UnitedHealthcare from acquiring healthcare technology company Change Healthcare Inc, saying the proposed $13 billion transaction would harm competition in commercial health insurance markets.
“Following the acquisition, United could use its rivals’ information to gain an unfair advantage and harm competition in the health insurance markets,” the DoJ wrote in a press release at the time.
“The proposed transaction would also eliminate United’s only major rival in first-pass claims processing technology – a critical product used to efficiently process health insurance claims and save health insurers billions of dollars annually – and give United a monopoly share of the market.”
Last month, the DoJ, along with four attorneys general, also filed a 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 care and hospice patients and their families who are experiencing some of the most difficult times of their lives deserve affordable, high-quality care options,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in the Nov. 12 news release.
“The Department of Justice will not hesitate to stop unlawful consolidation and monopolization in the health care market that threatens to harm vulnerable patients, their families, and health care workers.”
Brian Thompson (pictured), who had served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after the shooting and was later pronounced dead
It comes after New York Mayor Eric Adams suggested police may have identified the killer in their latest lead but are not yet releasing his name.
When asked Saturday if investigators knew the mystery shooter’s name, Adams said, “We don’t want to release that right now,” police said. New York Post.
“When we do that, we’re essentially tipping the person we’re looking for and not wanting to give them an upper hand at all,” the former NYPD captain added.
‘Let him continue to believe that 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 asked Sunday morning if police knew the suspect’s identity, the NYPD told DailyMail.com: “There have been no updates on the case.”
Authorities are investigating the incident as a homicide as the hunt for the mysterious assailant extends beyond New York state lines.
The NYPD released new photos of the killer on Saturday evening. He is described as white and about 6 feet tall, but scant 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 around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The NYPD released several photos of the alleged killer. The suspect, pictured above, has been described as white and about 6 feet tall, but scant other details have been given
He fired several shots during the ambush, even jamming his gun, which he quickly dodged to continue shooting.
The attacker is believed to have used a rare World War II-inspired 9mm cannon, 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,” a phrase used by critics of the insurance industry.
The killer fled the scene by riding an electric bicycle up 6th Avenue towards Central Park, and was seen leaving the park at 6:56 am.
The last images of the killer appear to have been taken in the taxi that picked him up at 86th Street and Columbus Avenue, two minutes after he left Central Park.
Police tracked the shooter’s steps using surveillance video and appear to have left the city by bus about 45 minutes after the shooting.
UHG is the largest health insurance conglomerate in the country. The company expected to generate $450 billion in revenue by 2025, with Thompson earning a salary of about $10 million a year.
Thompson, who had served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition after the shooting and was later pronounced dead.
He had a speech planned on an imeeting with investors at the Hilton Hotel the morning of the shooting.
Flags flew at half-staff Wednesday at UnitedHealthcare’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, following the killing of its chief 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.