Mysterious Inscriptions Discovered on Shell Casings in Murder of Health Insurance CEO
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New York, Dec 5 (NationPress) Investigators have uncovered mysterious messages etched onto the bullet casings discovered at the site where the CEO of the largest US health insurance firm was fatally shot, which may provide insights into the motive of the assailant.
Authorities reported on Thursday that the terms “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” were inscribed on three projectiles.
The terms “deny” and “depose” are commonly used by insurance companies when they reject claims for treatments, arguing they are not covered under the existing policies.
This suggests a possible connection to an individual harboring grievances against United Healthcare (UHC), which was led by Brian Thompson until Wednesday, when he was shot outside a Hilton hotel in mid-town New York during an investors’ meeting held by his company.
Law enforcement is actively pursuing search warrants to track down the elusive gunman who waited outside the hotel, shooting Thompson from around three meters away, clearing a jam in his 9 mm firearm equipped with a silencer, and then escaping on a hired electric bicycle.
The trail of the masked assailant grew cold in the nearby Central Park, prompting a large-scale manhunt.
Evidence collected by the police near the shooting scene includes three live rounds, three spent cartridges, a water bottle from a Starbucks outlet, and an abandoned mobile device, all of which may provide vital clues.
The words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” bear striking similarities to the title of a book critical of the insurance sector, “Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It,” authored by Jay Feinman.
A description of the book on Amazon presents the author as a legal scholar and insurance authority, discussing how “insurance companies frequently attempt to delay the payment of legitimate claims, deny payments outright, and defend these practices by compelling claimants into litigation.”
A report from a Senate panel has criticized UHC for its high rate of claim denials.
Thompson, aged 50, assumed the role of CEO at UHC in 2021 after a 20-year ascent within the organization.
His annual compensation was nearly $10 million, leading a workforce of 140,000 and managing annual revenues of $281 billion.
After a brief wait, the assailant, shooting from behind, struck Thompson in the leg and chest.
Security footage captured the shooter swiftly resetting the firearm after it malfunctioned and continuing to fire.
Police Chief Joseph Kenny stated, “It appears he is skilled in firearm use, as he was able to clear the malfunction rather quickly.”
The annual tradition of lighting the Christmas Tree at the nearby Rockefeller Centre proceeded without incident on Wednesday night, with tens of thousands filling the streets after officials assured the public that the shooting was targeted and not a random act of violence.
