Ammunition Used in Ceo’s Killing Had ‘deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’ Written on It

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was ambushed and killed outside a Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning, just steps away from his company's annual investor conference. The gunman used bullets marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” a possible allusion to alleged insurance company practices, according to an anonymous law enforcement source.

The 50-year-old health executive, a father of two, was attacked as he walked toward the Hilton Hotel in Midtown. Surveillance footage showed the masked shooter calmly approaching Thompson from behind before firing several shots, even clearing a jammed pistol mid-assault. Authorities believe the gunman had firearms training and used a silencer during the targeted attack.

Investigators are combing through evidence, including 9mm shell casings and a cellphone found near the scene. The suspect fled on a bicycle, last seen entering Central Park. Police have released surveillance images, including some from a Starbucks visited by the suspect before the attack, and are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

On Thursday, detectives searched hostels on Manhattan's Upper West Side based on tips suggesting the suspect may have stayed there. However, hostel staff did not recognize the shooter, and no new leads emerged. DNA and fingerprint analysis are underway on items believed to belong to the gunman.

Thompson's wife, Paulette, revealed to NBC News that her husband had received threats, potentially related to disputes over insurance claims. UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, issued a statement mourning the loss of their CEO and promised to cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

The murder has left the health insurance giant reeling, with its investor conference cut short. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized that the shooting was deliberate, with the suspect lying in wait for Thompson. Despite an intensive search, the killer's whereabouts remain unknown.