A person of interest connected to the brazen, execution-style murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was arrested on Monday (December 9).
Per the New York Post, law enforcement sources say the man was taken into custody after being arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The man, who has yet to be identified, was taken into custody after allegedly attempting to use a fake ID at a McDonald’s. Authorities say he was found with a gun, silencer, four fake IDs, and a manifesto, items described as “consistent” with the investigation into the high-profile slaying.
The NYPD is working to confirm the suspect’s identity as investigators piece together the chilling case. A tip led local police to the suspect, who was detained as New York detectives traveled to Pennsylvania to continue the investigation.
A Targeted Killing
Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot outside the Hilton on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan last Wednesday morning, where he was scheduled to speak at an investors’ conference.
Surveillance footage captured the masked gunman calmly approaching Thompson from behind on the crowded sidewalk and opening fire with what appeared to be a handgun equipped with a silencer, shortly before 7:00AM.
Thompson was struck multiple times, including in the back and calf, before the assailant fled the scene on an e-bike. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Thompson was deliberately targeted, stating: “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.”
A Case Full of Clues
The investigation revealed cryptic and unsettling details, including bullets recovered from the scene inscribed with the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend.”
The markings are believed to be a grim nod to a 2010 book titled Delay, Deny, Defend by Jay Feinman. The potential connection to the book - which critiques the insurance industry’s tactics to avoid accountability for patient claims - has sparked speculation that the shooting was meant as a symbolic act of vengeance.
Additionally, officers scouring the surrounding area for leads on Friday uncovered a discarded backpack in Central Park, thought to belong to the suspect. Inside the bag? A jacket and stacks of Monopoly money.
Video footage uncovered during the investigation provided a clear image of the suspect’s face and suggested he may have been staying at an Upper West Side hostel before the murder.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, revealed that the family had received threats related to his position as the head of America’s largest private health insurer. “There had been some threats,” she told NBC News, adding: “I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
Law enforcement sources confirmed that UnitedHealthcare had informed investigators about these threats, which may have been tied to Thompson’s role overseeing a company with significant influence over healthcare access.
A Reverberating Loss
Thompson, a father of two, was promoted to CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and earned nearly $10 million in 2022, according to reports.
His death sent shockwaves through the business and healthcare communities. The investors’ conference was abruptly halted as attendees fled in panic and tears.
UnitedHealth Group issued a statement expressing profound grief at Thompson’s death, describing him as “a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.” Flags at the company’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, were flown at half-staff.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also expressed condolences, calling Thompson’s death “a terrible loss for the business and health care community.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to unravel the motive behind the shocking murder. It is unclear whether the $10,000 reward offered for information leading to the suspect’s capture has been claimed.
Authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the shooter. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.