Minute-by-minute breakdown of Brian Thompson shooting – from Starbucks trip, to hitman-style execution and e-bike escape
BRIAN Thompson’s suspected killer is still on the loose as New York City cops desperately try to hunt him down.
It took the masked gunman seconds to land several fatal shots before escaping into the big city.
He was captured on CCTV several times within a 45-minute period on Wednesday as he ruthlessly killed and fled the scene.
Investigations are ongoing into the broad daylight strike with cops launching a manhunt for the gunman.
Here is the minute-by-minute breakdown of the brazen attack.
Wednesday, December 4 – 6:15am
About half an hour before to the attack, CCTV shows the alleged shooter departing the 57th Street F subway station.
According to investigators, the man might have traveled to Midtown from the Upper West Side via subway.
He is seen with a mask over his face and a black hoodie on.
Starbucks stop – 6:17am
After exiting the train station, the alleged assassin is spotted waiting at a nearby Starbucks.
It is thought that he placed an order with the West 56th and 6th Avenue location for two energy bars, a bottle of water, and coffee.
The man was seen throwing the bottle and a coffee cup in the garbage by CCTV, which was only two blocks from the murder scene.
Mystery phone call – 6:30am
While strolling down a nearby street, the suspect appears to be on the phone, holding his phone up to his ear.
He kept his mask on the whole time.
Chilling murder – 6:44am
CCTV shows a man approaching Thompson from behind and pointing a big black gun at the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
As Thompson falls to the ground, multiple rounds are fired at his legs and back.
Three live 9mm bullets and three fired casings were found by police in the roadway.
Police sources told the New York Post that the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” were discovered on the casings.
Outside the Hilton Midtown hotel, the hitman-style killing was carried out.
The escape – 6:45am
A desperate manhunt is started as the suspect leaves the site shortly after the terrible attack.
Watch as the attacker briskly jogs across the street from the Hilton after calmly walking up the sidewalk.
UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot outside Manhattan hotel in targeted attack
Later, through an alleyway between 54th and 55th streets, he was observed moving north.
Intelligence officer Phillip Ingram believes the shooting was a carefully planned out attack.
Intelligence officer on why shooting was a carefully planned hit job
911 call – 6:46am
A member of the public calls Midtown North Precinct police in a panic, claiming that a guy, who turns out to be Thompson, has been shot.
CEO discovered – 6:48am
Officers find Thompson on the ground outside the Hilton a few minutes after the call.
Police reported that he suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and back when EMS took him to the hospital.
Suspect’s last known sighting – 6:48am
Minutes after the incident, the suspect can be seen riding an e-bike in Central Park in footage captured by street cameras.
He still has his rucksack on and is dressed in the same clothes, with his hood up.
According to the NYPD, this is the last time they have seen the individual they are searching for.
Although the murder’s motivation has not yet been made public, authorities think Thompson was “specifically targeted.”
Teams of forensic investigators found a heartbreaking message written on the bullets the murderer used to kill Thompson in cold blood.
Live rounds and shell casings at the scene contained the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend,” according to police sources who spoke to the New York Post.
The book Delay, Deny, Defend, which discussed insurance companies and the reasons for their refusal to pay claims, may have been the source of such remarks.
There are theories that the murderer may have been a UnitedHealthcare patient who was upset and seeking retribution.
After the murder, Jay M. Feinman, the book’s author, remained silent.
Lawyers and insurance critics also frequently use the phrase to characterize strategies used to evade paying claims.
It describes how insurance companies postpone payments, reject claims, and then defend their positions.
Physicians and patients have increasingly criticized health insurers such as UnitedHealthcare for rejecting claims or making it more difficult to acquire care.
The NYPD has offered a $10,000 reward for information about the killer.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
A second sighting – 7:00am
A man is seen riding an electric bike along W 85th Street in unconfirmed video.
UnitedHealthcare suspect spotted riding bike
He is dressed in black, same like the alleged gunman, but he no longer seems to be carrying a backpack.
After watching the video, law enforcement officials informed CNN that they think the individual in question is most likely the shooter.
Thompson pronounced dead – 7:12am
Thursday, December 5 – 11:20am
A set of photos of a person of interest connected to the shooting are released by the NYPD.
The lower portion of a man’s face is visible beneath his cowl as he enters an Upper Manhattan hostel.
Read More on The US Sun
After searching the hostel on Amsterdam Avenue, NYPD and FBI officers discovered that the individual had checked in on November 30.
Police have not yet determined whether the individual in the pictures is the suspect.
Inside the suspect’s movements as he ruthlessly killed and escaped without a trace
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