Crime

The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was one of the biggest stories of the week ... so, it wasn't surprising when "Saturday Night Live" addressed the situation first thing on 'Weekend Update.'

Check it out ... longtime 'Weekend Update' co-anchor Colin Jost weighed in on the shooting at the very top of the sketch show's segment ... as he roasted New York City officials for the ongoing manhunt and called out the country's thirsty reaction to the suspected shooter's looks.

As Jost put it ... there were two distinct reactions when images of the alleged assassin surfaced this week -- "Yeah, well healthcare stinks" and "Girl, that shooter hot."

The dark eyes of the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson have come into full focus -- highlighting his steely gaze and bushy brows based on new images released by the NYPD.

New York City's finest released two photos late Saturday with the first image showing the suspected shooter in the backseat of a cab in Manhattan.

The alleged gunman is peeking through a window divider and staring directly into a security camera mounted inside the taxi. He is wearing a blue medical mask that covers his nose and mouth while his eyes and brows are totally exposed.

A jarring event took place in NYC on Saturday ... when an apparent look-alike contest was held -- and very much attended -- for the suspect who killed the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood this week.

Online reaction to the gathering is a mixture of shock and celebration ... putting a fine point on how polarizing the murderer has become.

Several people in Washington Square Park came dressed in clothing that resembled what the suspect -- who remains at large -- wore when he fatally shot Thompson outside his hotel.

Internet sleuths believe they have found the jacket worn by the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... and now it is morbidly flying off the shelves.

On Reddit, a user speculated the suspect's jacket was a Sherpa Lined Two Picket Hooded Trucker Jacket by Levi's ... sold at Macy's for the retail price of $225.

The jacket's popularity has since spread like wildfire on the company's website ... where more than 6,000 people were viewing the jacket at the same time -- and nearly 700 were sold in the past 48 hours, according to an item popularity tool on Macy's site.

The suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan may have used a special weapon more common on farms ... at least according to cops.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters Friday police investigators are looking into the possibility the gunman used a veterinary gun ... a larger gun commonly used on ranches and farms.

Kenny says this specialized, larger firearm is used for animals because, "If an animal has to get put down, the animal can be shot without" the gun causing a loud noise.

Hercy Miller -- Master P's son -- is one step closer to having his name cleared in his refrigerator theft case ... prosecutors tell TMZ Sports they've filed documents to drop the felony charge he had been facing.

A spokesperson for the Iron County Attorney's Office tells us ... they submitted a motion to dismiss Miller's case in court on Friday afternoon. If a judge ultimately signs off on it, Miller will be in the clear.

A formal ruling on the matter is expected to come down by the end of next week.

3:22 PM PT -- According to CNN ... an NYPD spokesperson says a backpack found in Central Park is being investigated as possibly belonging to the suspect wanted for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

As TMZ reported yesterday, the backpack appears to be an Everyday Backpack from Peak Design ... a bag meant for serious photographers but designed for casual use as well.

The manhunt for the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan is expanding beyond New York City ... because cops think he fled the Big Apple.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tish told CNN that NYPD investigators have reason to believe the suspect is no longer in town.

As we reported ... police believe the gunman arrived in NYC last month on a bus from Atlanta and shacked up in a hostel, using a fake ID to check in, before Wednesday's shooting outside a Manhattan hotel.

Tyler Perry might as well be living at Fort Knox ... because we're told his high-tech home security system helped prevent masked intruders from burglarizing the place.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... four intruders wearing masks and gloves made their way onto Tyler's Los Angeles-area property early Wednesday evening, where they were observed by Perry's 24-hour security team.

We're told the intruders were spotted thanks to a thermal imaging camera system, and Tyler's security guards chased the individuals away.

Daniel Penny -- the man who choked Jordan Neely to death on a NYC subway -- has avoided a conviction so far this week after a jury of his peers could not come to a unanimous decision Friday in his trial ... and prosecutors decided to drop the top charge in the case as a result.

The prosecution moved to dismiss the second-degree manslaughter charge after the jury twice told the judge today they could not come to a unanimous verdict.

The judge agreed to drop the charge ... and the jury will reconvene Monday to consider the lesser charge in the case -- criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, he could face up to 4 years in state prison.

The suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson handled his gun proficiently during Wednesday's shooting -- something that's painfully clear, according to a former FBI agent.

Jennifer Coffindaffer spoke with us on "TMZ Live" Friday and broke down the suspect's expertise -- pointing out how he used a silencer on the gun, fully aware it could cause jams, and cleared it like a pro without missing a beat when it did.

Watch the video ... Coffindaffer digs into the suspect’s firearm skills and breaks down what the 3 distinct shots reveal about the man behind the trigger.

Private security firms have been inundated with calls since the cold-blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... but the high-profile case won't necessarily change how companies protect execs long-term, TMZ is told.

In the days since Thompson was shot dead on the streets of NYC ... multiple private security firms have been flooded with service inquiries and price quotes.

Ian Dahlberg, owner of Dahlcore Security Guard Services, tells TMZ ... there has been a noticeable uptick in calls -- from executes looking for private security to film studios wanting to beef up guards on the lot.

The suspect who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have disappeared into Central Park after the shooting Wednesday morning in a premeditated attempt to evade cameras ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... The suspect rode an e-bike on Center Drive into Central Park after the shooting seemingly with the knowledge the multi-block blackout area would provide cover as he disposed of evidence.

We're told there are no surveillance cameras INSIDE the park, but there are some at the entrances and exits of the famous Manhattan oasis. This may surprise many people in a city known for its multitude of cameras on streets and businesses everywhere.

The gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson arrived in New York City on a bus from Atlanta ... TMZ has confirmed.

Law enforcement sources tell us the suspected shooter arrived in the Big Apple 10 days before the shooting on November 24 ... taking a Greyhound bus to the Port Authority station in Manhattan.

From there, we're told the suspect checked into a hostel.

The main suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have possibly stayed in a hostel, but it looks like he had some money ... 'cause he had an expensive backpack with him.

The backpack appears to be an Everyday Backpack from Peak Designs ... a bag meant for serious photographers but designed for casual use as well.

According to reports, it's not a new model of the backpack ... with some saying there's a good chance the bag was purchased between 2016 and 2019.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is walking back a controversial policy decision regarding coverage for anesthesia in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder.

In a statement released Thursday, the company defended its decision to reverse the policy as a response to "significant widespread misinformation" ... though, it was notably timed amid the hunt for Thompson's shooter.

ABCBS shared the now-controversial policy was never meant "to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services" ... rather, the "proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines."

A couple of looters may've dressed like Santa Claus for a recent heist, but they acted more like the Grinch ... smashing glass and making off with goods in a new video making the rounds online.

Check it out ... security camera footage documents the exact moment a couple of bandits decided to act naughty instead of nice Sunday, smashing through an electronics store's glass door and filling their sacks with items behind the counter.

One of the culprits -- who slips and nearly falls onto a pile of glass after rushing into the store -- also helps himself to a shelf filled with tumblers, booze and more.