The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive in Manhattan this week has all the hallmarks of a revenge killing, says Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox. On Wednesday morning, a suspect was captured on video stalking Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO, on a sidewalk before raising a weapon equipped with a silencer and shooting Thompson in the back.
Authorities examined the bullet casings on Thursday and discovered the words, written in permanent marker, “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” The message closely resembles the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” which refers to a set of common tactics by insurers to avoid paying claims. “Given what we know, including the inscription on the ammunition, and the fact that he stalked this person down — and apparently knew that this conference was going on in New York City — says to me that this is likely an act of revenge,” Fox, who teaches criminology, law and public policy, tells Northeastern Global News.
