On December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The assailant, described as a masked gunman, used ammunition inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” These terms are reminiscent of the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” commonly used to criticize insurance companies’ tactics to avoid paying claims.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has released surveillance images of the suspect without a mask, obtained from a hostel where he stayed prior to the incident. Investigators believe the suspect arrived in New York City from Atlanta via bus and checked into the HI New York City Hostel using a New Jersey license that did not belong to him.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect exiting the subway near the crime scene shortly before the shooting. After the attack, he fled on a bicycle through Central Park. The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Thompson, 50, had been with UnitedHealth Group since 2004 and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021. He was in New York for an investor conference scheduled at the Hilton Hotel. The company expressed deep sorrow over his passing and is cooperating with law enforcement.
The inscriptions on the ammunition have sparked discussions about the tactics of insurance companies, as the phrase “delay, deny, defend” is often used to describe how insurers handle claims. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
