New details emerged on Thursday as the manhunt entered its second day for the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Thompson was gunned down shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday, outside New York Hilton Midtown, where he was set to address an annual investor meeting.
He was shot at least once in the back and once in the right calf, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital about 30 minutes later.
Police officials have called the shooting “targeted” but have not specified a motive.
The suspect remained at large as of Thursday evening, but new reporting has emerged as police double down on their search efforts.
Messages on casings
Police recovered three live 9 mm rounds and three discharged shell casings from the scene.
A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News on Thursday the shells found at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them. ABC News first reported on the words.
The New York Post noted those three words also appear in the title of a 2010 book, “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance companies don’t pay claims and what you can do about it.”
Photo shows face
The NYPD released new photos Thursday of a person of interest wanted for questioning in connection to the homicide case.
Police did not call the individual a suspect in the shooting, but The New York Times reported the images show the suspect, citing law enforcement officials.
The two photos released Thursday morning show someone wearing a green-grey jacket with a hood and two large pockets. The person can be seen smiling in one of the photos.
The NYPD is asking the public for help in identifying the individual, and offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the suspect's arrest, it wrote in a Thursday update with the photos.
Stayed at hostel
NYPD investigators brought police Thursday morning to at least two hostels on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to The Associated Press, which reported the lead was based on a tip that the suspected shooter may have stayed at one of the residences. The AP cited a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
The photos police released Thursday of a man wanted for questioning were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel, the AP reported.
“We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time,” Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the hostel, said in an emailed statement to the AP.
Gun purchase
The New York Times reported that officials are investigating the purchase of a gun that reportedly resembles the weapon used in the shooting. The Times cited two officials briefed on the investigation.
The officials said the gun was purchased in Connecticut and said investigators are trying to determine whether the buyer of the gun could be the suspect, according to the Times.
Swatting of homes
Two residences owned by the family of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson were targeted Wednesday evening in what police are describing as a “swatting” incident, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Maple Grove Police Department said Thursday it received a report of a bomb threat at approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday at two residences in the Minneapolis suburb. The Tribune said Hennepin County property records showed the homes belonged to Thompson and his wife, Paulette Thompson.
The threat was sent in an email to multiple people, who in turn alerted law enforcement, according to incident reports.
“No devices or suspicious items were located during the investigation,” police said in a statement. ”The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax.”
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