Authorities are reportedly following up on hundreds of tips in Wednesday’s shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Carlos Nieves, the NYPD’s assistant commissioner of public information, told the New York Post that all tips are being investigated as Thompson’s killer remains at large. Nieves said they are also investigating claims made on social media, such as TikTok.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that DNA evidence recovered from where Thompson was shot in Manhattan was given to the medical examiner for analysis. An unnamed senior law enforcement said the following pieces of evidence were turned over: a water bottle with a smudged fingerprint on it and a cell phone which possibly has trace skin cell or touch DNA.
The official also told CNN that they’re looking for more pictures of the gunman’s face to load them into their facial recognition technology.
The gunman allegedly checked into AYH Hostel in Manhattan before fatally shooting Thompson. He reportedly used a fake identification card and paid in cash, presumably to conceal his identity.
The suspected gunman was filmed at a nearby Starbucks 20 minutes before Thompson was fatally shot near the Hilton hotel in Manhattan. Police said the shooting “does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premeditated, targeted attack.”
Thompson, who was from Minnesota, was attending his company’s annual investors conference in New York when he was killed. He had left his hotel — across the street from the Hilton, where the conference was being held — alone and without any security detail.
Reports indicated that UnitedHealthcare was aware of threats made before Wednesday’s shooting. While the threats did not mention names, they reportedly suggested that high-ranking officials would be targeted.
The suspect fled the scene on foot and then on a bicycle. Sources told CNN that the suspect — who is believed to be an experienced marksman — left behind a live round and shell casing with the words “delay” and “depose” on them.
A motive remains undisclosed. The NYPD is offering up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.
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[Feature Photo: NYPD]
