UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting: Suspect held for questioning

A man is being held for questioning in Altoona, Pennsylvania in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, New York Times reports.

A law enforcement source said the suspect was identified thanks to a tip from an “elderly patron” who saw him at a McDonald’s in Altoona. The suspect reportedly had a gun, a silencer and fake ID cards similar to those believed to have been used by the killer in New York City.

When contacted by authorities at the McDonald’s, the suspect reportedly showed police the same fake New Jersey ID the gunman is believed to have used when he checked into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Law enforcement officials also said he carried a handwritten manifesto criticizing health care companies and the ways they prioritize profits over patient care.

Authorities said the suspect arrived in Altoona via a Greyhound bus. They are looking for the passenger manifest to see if any names match those on the other fake IDs found on the suspect.

The detained suspect has not been arrested or charged in connection with the shooting, although he was reportedly arrested on local charges (perhaps related to allegedly displaying a fake ID card). If the suspect is believed to be Thompson’s killer, he must be extradited to New York to face charges. His name has not yet been released.

The hearing is the most significant development in the hunt for the shooter since Thompson was killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown on the morning of December 4. Authorities have called the killing a “premeditated, targeted attack” and at the scene of the crime they recovered several shell casings, engraved with the words “deny”, “defend” and “depose” – a possible allusion to terms used by health insurance companies to avoid to pay claims.

After the attack, authorities said they believed the gunman fled the scene, first on foot and then on a bicycle. He is believed to have quickly left New York City by bus, with surveillance cameras capturing him entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal but not leaving it. Police officers also found a backpack — reportedly stuffed with monopoly money — in Central Park that they believe belonged to the shooter.

In addition to tracking his movements, police also shared a handful of photos of the suspect that were snapped from surveillance footage. These included pictures of the shooter in a Starbucks as well as a taxi, although in both pictures his face was covered. Photos of the perpetrator without a face mask were taken at the hostel where he was allegedly staying.