The UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson murder case has found a key evidence with the release of pictures of the suspect with mask down, and the credit for that goes to a ‘flirtatious’ exchange between the person of interest and a woman.
The snap, which shows the suspect smiling, was taken from a hostel CCTV.
A female hostel employee told authorities that she asked the masked man to lower his mask while flirting with him, which led to the photos released by authorities on Thursday, according to a law enforcement official speaking to CNN.
“Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4. This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premediated, targeted attack. The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public’s help—if you have any information about this case, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). There is a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction,” the New York Police Department said.
A cell phone was discovered near the shooting site, and witnesses reported seeing the killer speaking on a phone before the murder, though it has not yet been confirmed whether the phone is connected to the crime.
The bullet shell casings found at the scene were marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” which resemble the title of a 2010 book, Delay Deny Defend, focused on insurance claims. UnitedHealthcare, a subdivision of UnitedHealth Group, is an insurance company, raising questions about a potential connection.
After the shooting, the killer stopped at a nearby Starbucks on Sixth Avenue, where he purchased a coffee, a bottle of water, and two energy bars.
Brian Thompson was killed early Wednesday morning when he arrived at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel to prepare for an investors’ day event.