THE assassin who executed CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel was a professional hitman, an ex-army intel officer has claimed.
The masked gunman calmly approached the insurance boss before shooting him in cold blood and fleeing the scene.
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New York cops have launched a desperate manhunt to locate the shooter who remains at large.
Chilling CCTV footage shows the moment the suspect shot down the victim while another clip shows the shooter on his phone before the murder.
Police found the words “deny,” “depose” and “defend” scrawled on bullets the gunman used indicating it could be a secret message.
Mystery surrounds the assassination of the healthcare CEO, with expert former senior British military intelligence officer Phillip Ingram claiming it was a professional hit.
Speaking exclusively to the Sun, he revealed the three clues that suggest the hooded shooter was a pro.
He said: “It’s very clear that this was a professional assassination.
“Because the way an individual, came into profile in the CCTV pictures that we’ve seen, having let his victim walk past him and then pull a gun out with a rather large silencer on it and fire a number of rounds.
“We saw the gun jamming, and he cleared the jam very professionally, um, killing his victim as he wanted to do, and then moved off, but in a way that he hid his identity.
“He had clearly checked the area out for where the CCTV coverage was beforehand. And what’s interesting is there are reports to say that there are words on some of the shell cartridges that have been found by the police. So there was a clear message being sent.
“So this was very professionally put together. The individual was aware of how to handle a weapon.
“This was someone who knew what he was doing. And in the nerves of the moment and using a weapon with a silencer.
“First round hit his victim in the calf. Second round hit him in the chest, which is where you’d be aiming for.”
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Cops in New York have described the hit as a “premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack” against the healthcare boss.
But ex- NYPD inspector Paul Mauro has dismissed claims the suspect is a professional arguing they “primarily exist in movies.”
He told Fox News: “I would just hesitate on that and tell people to just be mindful of the fact that professional hitmen primarily exist in the movies. They don’t really exist.
“What we know so far is that he was very calm, he clearly knew the route … it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a murder for hire.
“Those things do happen. The idea that this is a ‘professional shooter’ I am skeptical of.”
The deadly shooting happened just after 6:45am as Thompson walked into the New York Hilton Midtown.
Thompson did not have security with him at the time despite UnitedHealth Group having an in-house security team.
The suspect was dressed in a dark jacket with a mask pulled up over his nose and was carrying a grey backpack.
Following the killing, the suspect calmly got on a nearby e-bike and jetted toward Central Park.
The suspect was also caught on CCTV ordering at Starbucks on West 56th and 6th Avenue just two blocks from the scene before the shooting.
Sources claimed he bought coffee, a water bottle and two PowerBars before the shooting.
Police have recovered a phone in an alleyway and have obtained a warrant to go through its contents.
Cops have also sought a search warrant for a hostel in New York City where they believe the killer may have been staying.
“We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time,” a spokesperson for the HI New York City Hostel told The U.S. Sun.
UnitedHealth Group Statement on Brian Thompson
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in a brazen attack on December 4 as he was leaving a New York City hotel. Parent company UnitedHealth Group released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.
“We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.
“Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
A man matching the killer’s description, wearing a dark jacket, hat, mask, and gray backpack, can be seen appearing to talk on his phone walking toward the Hilton Hotel at around 6:30 am.
He got to the hotel about five minutes before the shooting andwaited for Thompson, who was arriving at the hotel for an investor conference.
The killer appeared to be a skilled shooter, law enforcement sources said, using a silencer and gunning down Thompson from a distance of around 20 feet.
He was also able to recover quickly when his gun appeared to jam during the shooting, fixing the issue and continuing to fire as the CEO tried desperately to crawl away.
Disturbing footage shows the gunman pumping multiple rounds into Thompson as he arrived at the luxury hotel.
Following the shooting, the killer got on a bike and rode north on Sixth Avenue, fleeing into nearby Central Park where surveillance camera coverage is patchier.
Police have so far captured one usable image of the suspect without a mask.
Police offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence.
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