The assassin who fatally shot the CEO of UnitedHealth left a cryptic message on the bullets.
Brian Thompson, the boss of the largest health insurer in the US, was shot dead on Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, in what the police described as a "brazen targeted attack" outside a hotel in Manhattan, New York, where his company, United Healthcare, was holding an investor conference.
Police sources told ABC News that casings were discovered at the scene with the cryptic messages left on them.
"Deny," "defend" and "depose" - these are the words on the bullets found at the scene of the shooting.
Brian, 50, received bullets in the back and leg outside the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown, near Times Square and Central Park, yesterday morning, Dec. 4.
Thompson stumbled after the first bullet struck, briefly turned to face the gunman, who coolly pulled back the weapon's slide with each shot, the video shows. He helplessly tried to crawl away as the shooter's unleashed a barrage of bullets.
Law enforcement sources said it appeared the shooter not only used a silencer, but was proficient enough with the gun to smoothly clear it after a jam to continue firing.
Cameras captured his assailant - who remains on the loose - walking up behind the businessman and killing him. Afterwards, he fled on a bike and was last seen riding into Central Park at 6.48 am, police said.
The man was wearing a cream-coloured jacket, a black mask, and black and white trainers, and a distinctive gray backpack.
Thompson was shot in front of the Hilton's address around 6.40am and was pronounced de@d at a nearby hospital, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Witnesses said that the suspected gunman was waiting outside the hotel until Thompson arrived, when he opened fire.
Watch a video of the shooting below.
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