Words found on shell casings where UnitedHealthcare CEO was shot dead, senior law enforcement official says

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Cups mark the location of shell casings found at the scene where the CEO of United Healthcare Brian Thompson was reportedly shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, US, December 4, 2024. Shannon Stapleton | Reuters

Shell casings found at the scene where the UnitedHealthcare CEO was shot dead by a masked gunman in front of a busy New York City hotel had the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" written on them, a senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed to NBC News on Thursday. Brian Thompson, 50, was killed in a "premeditated, preplanned targeted attack" outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, police said. He was on his way to speak at UnitedHealth Group's investor conference when the gunman who had been lying in wait for several minutes approached from behind and fired at least once into his back and at least once in the right calf, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a news conference Wednesday. Police say they don't yet know the motive of the gunman, who they say is still at large.

ABC News was the first to report the words written on the bullet casings. Thompson did not travel with any personal security detail despite known threats against him. "There had been some threats," Thompson's wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News on Wednesday. "Basically, I don't know, a lack of coverage? I don't know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." Security video showed Thompson, dressed in a blue suit, walking down the street. The gunman approached him from behind and opened fire, it showed. Thompson stumbled forward as a witness ran to safety. The gunman continued to fire as Thompson fell to the ground, the video showed.