Dec. 5 (UPI) — The suspect believed to have shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson likely used a fake New Jersey ID to purchase space at a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side where he stayed prior to the killing, the NYPD said Thursday night. Earlier in the day, police released two new photos of what they called a person of interest in the New York City murder.
The photos posted on X appear to be screenshots grabbed from security camera footage.
“Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4,” the NYPD X post said. “This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premeditated, targeted attack. The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public’s help.”
Police are seeking a search warrant for a facility in the city where the gunman may have been staying. The new photos are apparently from when the gunman stayed at the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side.
Police sources cited by ABC News said it appears that the suspect shared a room there with two other men.
Another video released Thursday also shows the suspect cycling out of Central Park just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Law enforcement earlier Thursday said that words were found on shell casings left at the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO BrianThompson’s midtown Manhattan killing as a manhunt for the suspect continued.
The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found on the cases, ABC News, NBC News and CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources.
The words may be a message from the gunman and police investigators are looking at whether they may indicate a motive in the killing.
The similar words ” “delay, deny, defend” are commonly known as the three D’s of the insurance industry.
As police search for the killer and investigate to determine the motive, bounty hunter and liaison to the U.S. Marshals Zeke Unger told CNN the killer didn’t appear to be a professional hitman.
The NYPD is asking anyone with any information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-8477.
Police are seeking a search warrant for a facility in the city where the gunman may have been staying. The new photos are apparently from when the gunman stayed at the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side.
Police sources cited by ABC News said it appears that the suspect shared a room there with two other men.
Another video released Thursday also shows the suspect cycling out of Central Park just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Law enforcement earlier Thursday said that words were found on shell casings left at the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO BrianThompson’s midtown Manhattan killing as a manhunt for the suspect continued.
The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found on the cases, ABC News, NBC News and CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources.
The words may be a message from the gunman and police investigators are looking at whether they may indicate a motive in the killing.
The similar words ” “delay, deny, defend” are commonly known as the three D’s of the insurance industry.
As police search for the killer and investigate to determine the motive, bounty hunter and liaison to the U.S. Marshals Zeke Unger told CNN the killer didn’t appear to be a professional hitman.
“I believe that the individual, by looking at the footage, had some psychological issues. That this is a revenge shooting,” Unger said. “This is not a professional killer, a contract killer by his mannerisms and by the failure of the weapon.”
Unger was referring to the gun appearing to jam temporarily during the shooting.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thompson was targeted in a premeditated, preplanned targeted attack.
Security video of the killing showed Thompson walking toward the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan early Wednesday morning when a hooded and masked gunman walked up behind him, pointed a silenced pistol at Thompson and fired multiple times before fleeing on a bike.
CBS News, citing a police source, said “forensic evidence” was found at the Starbucks the gunman visited before the shooting. A cellphone was also recovered in an alleyway near the shooting site that police said had investigative value.
Paulette Thompson, wife of the slain CEO, told NBC News Wednesday there had been threats against her husband.
“Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said.
The killer was described as a 6’1″ tall skinny White man dressed in all black with a hoodie and a mask.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.
