The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was shot dead by a masked gunman outside a hotel in New York City. The shell casings found at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them. Thompson was targeted in a premeditated attack as he was walking to speak at an investor conference. The motive of the gunman is still unknown, and he remains at large. Thompson had received threats in the past, but did not have personal security detail with him at the time of the shooting. Security video shows the gunman approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, before continuing to shoot as Thompson fell to the ground. The police recovered video footage of the suspect purchasing items from a nearby Starbucks before the shooting. The shooting appears to be a personal vendetta against Thompson related to his position in the company. The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear why Thompson was targeted. The incident has raised questions about the security measures provided to high-ranking business figures, as some companies provide personal security services to their executives, while others do not. Thompson’s slaying is being investigated as a targeted attack, but the exact motive is still unknown.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
