Topline
Authorities are reportedly questioning a man in central Pennsylvania who presented the same fake New Jersey ID used by the alleged gunman in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing, the latest development after what police said was a “brazen targeted attack” on the health insurance executive in Manhattan last week.
This undated photo shows a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a … [+]
Key Facts
A man in Altoona, Pennsylvania—who reportedly arrived in town on a Greyhound bus and was arrested on local charges—was spotted by a tipster at a McDonald’s, and was found with a gun and silencer similar to the one used in the shooting, NBC News and The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources.
The man, who has reportedly been identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, also showed law enforcement the same fake New Jersey ID that was presented when the suspected gunman checked into the New York International Hostel in the Upper West Side, according to the Times.
The arrestee was reportedly found with a handwritten “manifesto” railing against health care companies.
Separately, New York Police Department dive teams continued to search the waters in Central Park on Monday for the murder weapon after searching all weekend, and have cordoned off the lake behind Bethesda Fountain, CBS reported.
The police and U.S. Marshals Service are also searching Greyhound bus stops between New York City and Atlanta and reviewing surveillance footage to find out where the suspect boarded the bus to the Port Authority bus center in New York City, CBS reported, citing unnamed police sources.
The suspect’s identity hasn’t been released, but the New York Police Department released new photos of a masked “person of interest” in a taxi late Saturday, adding to two unmasked photos of the suspect reportedly taken at a hostel where he stayed prior to the shooting.
Authorities found a backpack that could belong to the suspect in Central Park on Friday evening as part of a large search involving officers and drones, according to multiple news outlets—the bag reportedly contained Monopoly money and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket.
Police told CNN on Friday they have “reason to believe” the suspected gunman has left New York City, at least in part because they think he took a cab to the Port Authority bus center from which interstate buses leave.
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Big Number
$50,000. That’s how much the FBI, which announced it had joined the investigation, is offering for information leading to the gunman’s arrest. The NYPD has offered a reward of up to $10,000.
How Did The Shooting Happen?
Thompson was shot in the back and right calf outside of the New York Hilton Midtown just before 7 a.m. Wednesday morning and was rushed to Mount Sinai West in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. Video footage of the shooting shows the suspect walking behind Thompson, who was wearing a blue suit and appeared to be heading to the Hilton hotel alone. Thompson didn’t have a security detail and left his hotel alone, said Joe Kenny, the New York City Police Department’s chief of detectives, citing UnitedHealth employees. The suspect had checked out of the New York International Hostel in the Upper West Side Wednesday morning, The New York Times reported, and visited a Starbucks—where he reportedly bought the water bottle police found—near the Hilton before waiting outside of the hotel.
Where Did The Suspect Stay—and Where Did He Come From?
Police reportedly believe the suspect arrived in New York in late November on a bus that left from Atlanta—though they don’t know where he boarded it. He then reportedly checked into a hostel at some point, checked out on Nov. 29, and checked back in on Nov. 30. A senior law enforcement official told The New York Times the shooter used a fake New Jersey ID to book a room at the hostel, and he reportedly used cash during his time in the city. The Atlanta Police Department confirmed in a statement it began assisting the NYPD in its investigation on Friday afternoon.
Has The Suspect Been Arrested?
No. The suspect, who fled first on foot then on an electric bike, was last seen in Central Park and is still at large, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said. He is believed to be a light-skinned man who was wearing a light brown or cream-colored coat, black and white sneakers, a black face mask and a “very distinctive” gray backpack, Kenny said. New Yorkers should “go about their daily lives” but “be alert,” NYPD chief of department Jeffrey Maddrey said Wednesday.
What Evidence Has The Police Recovered?
The police have found a burner phone, a water bottle and protein bar that were reportedly bought at the nearby Starbucks the suspect visited, and a backpack that reportedly contained Monopoly money and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket. Officers at the scene also found bullet casings with a message written on them. Detectives obtained DNA evidence that is now being examined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, The New York Times reported Friday, but it’s unclear where the DNA was taken from and whether it will match existing DNA in a law enforcement database. Meanwhile, investigators are reportedly looking into the purchase of a gun in Connecticut to determine whether the suspect could have bought it, the Times reported.
What Was On The Bullet Casings At The Scene?
Officers found three 9mm rounds at the scene, Kenny said. Casings that were found at the site of the shooting had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them, ABC News first reported Thursday, citing anonymous police sources. Though police have not named a motive in the killing, the words echo a common phrase—“delay, deny, defend”—describing allegations thrown at insurance companies that are accused of avoiding paying claims whenever they can. UnitedHealthcare and and other health insurance companies “have become frequent targets of criticism” for denying claims and making it harder to get care, the Associated Press reported earlier this year.
Was Thompson Targeted?
Police think so. The gunman was “lying in wait for several minutes” and ignored other passers-by before approaching and firing at Thompson from behind as he walked to the hotel, Tisch said Wednesday. Tisch called the shooting a “brazen targeted attack” that did not appear to be a random act of violence, and “every indication” pointed to a “premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack.” Thompson’s wife Paulette Thompson told NBC News Wednesday that while she did not know specific details, she was aware that “some people had been threatening him.” While the motive behind the attack is still unknown, the suspect appeared to be “proficient in the use of firearms” as he was able to clear a malfunction in the gun, Kenny said. Footage of the shooting shows there was another person present when the suspect raised his weapon at Thompson, who fled.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch (R) participates in a press conference regarding … [+]
Key Background
Thompson–a Minnesota resident–was in New York for an investor meeting for UnitedHealthcare parent UnitedHealth Group, which was halted abruptly Wednesday after UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the company was “dealing with a very serious medical situation,” according to Bloomberg. UnitedHealth Group said it was “deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague” in a statement issued Wednesday, and said it was working closely with the police.
Further Reading
Who Is Brian Thompson? UnitedHealthcare CEO Fatally Shot After Being Threatened (Forbes)
UnitedHealthcare CEO Fatally Shot In NYC: Police Still Searching For Gunman (Forbes)
