The New York Police Department (NYPD) has made significant progress in the investigation into the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with several key developments reported this week.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the 3D-printed gun found on Luigi Mangione, the suspect arrested in Pennsylvania, matches the three shell casings found at the crime scene in Midtown Manhattan. Additionally, Mangione’s fingerprints were found on items near the scene, including a water bottle and an energy bar wrapper.
The NYPD also revealed that the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” were written across three 9mm shell casings found at the scene, which may point to a motive in the killing. Authorities are investigating whether these words, which are also the title of a 2010 book critiquing the insurance industry, were written by Mangione.
Mangione’s background is also starting to come into focus, with his mother reporting him missing in November after he vanished from view of his loved ones. His attorney, Thomas Dickey, has denied his client’s involvement in the killing and anticipates he will plead not guilty to the murder charge.
The investigation has also uncovered writings by Mangione referencing a painful back injury and an insurance claim, which authorities are investigating. Mangione was denied bail at an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania and is expected to be extradited to New York to face charges.
The killing of Thompson has sparked widespread outrage and fear among executives in the healthcare industry, with an NYPD intelligence report warning of an elevated threat facing executives in the near-term.