UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect Handled His Gun Like an Expert ... Says Former FBI Agent

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FOLLOWING THE BREADCRUMBS
TMZ.com

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.

Chuck Norris Mom Dead at 103

Chuck Norris is in mourning ... because his mom, Wilma, is dead.

The "Walker, Texas Ranger" star just announced his mom's death ... saying she died Wednesday morning and "went home to be with Jesus."

Chuck is remembering his mother as "a woman of unwavering faith, a beacon of light in our lives" ... and he says "her love reflected God's grace."

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Private Security Firms Flooded With 'Knee-Jerk' Calls ... Long-Term Exec Protection Likely Won't Change

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.

United Healthcare CEO Murder Suspect's Central Park Strategy Possibly Altered Appearance

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.

UnitedHealthCare CEO Murder Competing Companies Scrub Online Leadership Bios ... Fear Of Being Next?

Following the execution of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by a gunman in NYC, the insurance company and several competitors have scrubbed online bios of their execs.

UnitedHealthcare’s "About Us" page used to display the resumes of its senior leadership, including Thompson's, but now users are redirected to a generic tab solely covering background info about the corporation.

Other health insurers have followed suit ... Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's 25 plus executive profiles have been wiped from its "About Us" page.

'America's Got Talent' Comedian Kabir "Kabeezy" Singh Dead at 39

Kabir "Kabeezy" Singh, a comedian famous for appearing on "America's Got Talent," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Kabir died Wednesday and authorities are waiting on toxicology results to determine a cause of death.

We're told he had a history of health issues and at this point, investigators believe he may have died from natural causes, though the investigation is still ongoing.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Suspect Spotted Riding Bike ... Minutes After Shooting

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LEAVING THE SCENE

Police say the suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson can't hide forever in NYC ... 'cause security cameras recorded a person believed to be the shooter riding away from the murder scene.

Check out the new video, obtained by ABC News, showing a person -- who cops say is the suspect -- riding down a Manhattan street just minutes after Thompson was shot to death early Wednesday outside a hotel.

It appears the rider's wearing a mask, riding down the street very quickly ... but, cops say this is the person they're looking for -- blending in with the rest of the concrete jungle.

UnitedHealthCare CEO Killer Message Carved Into Bullet Casings ... 'Deny, Depose, Defend'

The gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the bustling streets of NYC carved a suspected message into the shell casings of the bullets he used to execute the executive -- and it might offer a clue into why he did it, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... three 9MM shell casings cops recovered from the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan had the words “deny,” “depose” and “defend” scrawled on them.

Our sources say two of the words appear in the title of a 2010 book, "Delay, Deny, Defend," which slams the health insurance sector -- and, as we now know, Thompson was one of the industry's bigwigs.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Assassin Spotted On Phone Minutes Before Slaying

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MINUTES BEFORE THE SHOOTING

The masked assassin who took out UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was caught on camera casually chatting on the phone just minutes before pulling the trigger, new video shows.

Surveillance footage shows a man decked out in the same dark outfit -- hat, ski mask, and gray backpack -- holding a phone to his ear as he strolled east on 54th Street toward the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue around 6:30 AM Wednesday -- just 15 minutes before the fatal shooting.

The NYPD said the killer showed up about 5 minutes before the attack, lying in wait for his target. When the moment came, he used a gun with a silencer to fire the shots that killed Thompson.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Slaying Journalist Posts Blue Cross Exec Pic Advocating For 'Peaceful Letter Writing Campaigns'

Taylor Lorenz -- a controversial journalist formerly of the Washington Post -- shared a photo of the Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO on the same day UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered.

Here's the deal ... Lorenz has posted multiple times to Bluesky and X in the aftermath of a gunman shooting and killing Thompson on a New York City street early Wednesday morning -- starting when Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it wouldn't cover anesthesia for the entirety of some surgeries.

TL shared the story on social media ... along with a picture of Kim A. Keck -- BCBS' CEO since 2021.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Internet Super-Sleuth May Have Tracked Location of Assassin

A man’s stepping forward with a jaw-dropping claim -- he says he may have figured out the whereabouts of the assassin who shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... all thanks to Citi Bike's tracking data.

A data scientist named Riley, who goes by @rtwlz on X, dropped a bombshell post, revealing how he's been scraping Citi Bike data every minute ... and he could see exactly where individual bikes go.

And here's the kicker -- he says the only northbound Citi Bike to leave within 10 minutes of the shooting near the Hilton hotel where Thompson was entering, left at 6:44 AM and headed straight to a location at Madison Ave & 82nd St at 6:52 AM.

Jiare Schneider Family Harassed by Fraudsters ... Claiming TikToker Is Being 'Held Hostage' After Death

The family of late TikToker Jiare Schneider is facing harassment as they mourn the Internet personality ... from fraudsters making threats about Jiare's well-being, despite his recent passing.

The TikToker's sister, Jasnique Woods, tells TMZ ... before and after the confirmation of Jiare's death, the family received a number of threats from swindlers -- who claim they're holding JS hostage, demanding a ransom for his release.

Remember, Jiare was missing for 10 days before he was found dead last week in Georgia after an extensive search. His family posted missing-person flyers in an attempt to get information on his disappearance ... which is how crooks got ahold of Jasnique's phone number.

Liam Payne Friend Says Hotel's To Blame For Death

Liam Payne's good friend, who Buenos Aires authorities are going after for allegedly abandoning the late singer during a bender, says he's not the one at fault here ... instead pointing the finger at the hotel where Liam was staying.

Roger Nores' legal team filed new documents, obtained by TMZ, in Argentina and he basically makes the argument that he's not the one who should be investigated ... claiming the CasaSur Palermo Hotel played a big role in Liam's death.

In the docs, Roger says the hotel did NOT have a 24-hour doctor available ... even though he says they're required to have one under the law.

Kirk Herbstreit Heartfelt Letter From POTUS ... After Ben's Death

The tragic news of the passing of Kirk Herbstreit's beloved dog, Ben, made its way to the Oval Office ... with President Joe Biden sending his condolences in an emotional letter to the football announcer and his family following the loss.

"Ben brought so much comfort and unconditional love to millions of Americans across our nation," POTUS wrote in the note. "In your most joyful moments and most grief-stricken days, he was there, sensitive to every unspoken feeling and emotion."

"I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet, and I hope you can find some comfort in cherishing the beautiful memories you shared with Ben. He was a good boy."

UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Cops Have Killer on Camera ... Used Handgun with Silencer

NYPD has clear footage of the killer who opened fire on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan ... but only from behind the suspect.

Cops released the surveillance images captured Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel on 6th Ave and 54th Street ... and it shows 50-year-old Thompson strolling into the hotel by himself around 6:45 AM. The shooter walks up behind him, draws a handgun and starts shooting from less than 10 feet away.

It appears the suspect fired his weapon, which was fitted with a silencer, at least 3 times ... before fleeing into an alleyway on the other side of the street. Police say he made his getaway on a bicycle, which was captured on a different surveillance camera, and rode into Central Park ... just a few blocks away.

Harry Jowsey Announces Dad's Death

Heartbreak for Harry Jowsey -- he’s just shared that his dad has died.

The reality TV personality opened up on IG Wednesday morning, sharing a heartfelt post with throwback pics of his father ... writing in the caption, "I love you Dad, I miss you. I’ll catch you on the other side ❤️✨🕊️."

The devastating news clarifies the cryptic Instagram Story he shared the night before, featuring a broken-heart emoji and a white dove atop a black background.