Breaking News: Deny, Defend and Depose messages were inscribed on the bullet casings at the scene of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Investigators say messages reference the Commercial Health Insurance industry Denial of Care Harm-for-Profit business model
"The casings were apparently inscribed with words including “delay” and “deny,” officials said — possible references to ways that (commercial) health insurance companies seek to avoid paying patients’ claims."
-The New York Times
December 5, 2024
We continue to follow the biggest healthcare industry story of 2024 which has now escalated to reveal the possible motive: Denial of Care.
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The manhunt continues. Here’s the latest>
Updated Dec. 5, 2024, 9:05 a.m. ET44 minutes ago
Alyce McFadden and Corey Kilgannon | New York Times
New York police are investigating messages left on bullet casings at the scene of the fatal shooting of the chief executive of one of the country’s largest health insurers outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, according to two law enforcement officials.
The shooter appeared to have targeted the UnitedHealthcare executive, Brian Thompson, 50, waiting for him early Wednesday morning before firing several shots, leaving him crumpled and dying on the pavement.
While ballistics testing was continuing on the casings, officials said they appear to have been inscribed with words including “delay” and “deny” — possible references to ways that (commercial) health insurance companies seek to avoid paying patients’ claims. UnitedHealthcare has come under fierce criticism from patients, lawmakers and others for its denials of claims.
Police officers, dogs and drones fanned out across the city after the attack, seeking a suspect captured on multiple surveillance videos wearing a dark hooded jacket, a black face-covering and a gray backpack.
“Every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,” the city’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Investigators will use a trail of digital evidence, tapping into the records of nearly ubiquitous surveillance cameras to help search for a suspect they called “proficient” with firearms. Police officers recovered a cellphone near the scene of the attack and are exploring whether it is connected to the shooting, the police said.
The police are offering a $10,000 reward for information about Mr. Thompson’s killing, and said they are also exploring his background and social media for clues. Mr. Thompson had recently received several threats, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. The police are still investigating the source and exact nature of those threats, the official said.
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