Theories surface on possible motive behind UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder

Police explore multiple theories following Brian Thompson's fatal shooting outside a Manhattan hotel.

The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has stunned the nation, and as New York City police continue their search for the suspect, various theories regarding the motive are surfacing. Thompson, 51, was shot and killed outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning, just hours before he was due to speak at the company’s annual investor conference.

While law enforcement officials have yet to announce a definitive motive, they have labeled the shooting as a "premeditated, targeted attack," sparking a wave of speculation on social media.

Theories on the motive include personal vendettas, corporate retaliation, and a potential link to UnitedHealthcare’s controversial practices. 

Some users have pointed to Thompson’s involvement in a highly publicized class action lawsuit, which accused him and other executives of insider trading. The lawsuit, filed in May 2024, claimed that Thompson and his colleagues sold millions of dollars in stock during an ongoing Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into their company’s business practices.

While the DOJ was probing UnitedHealth’s alleged role in stock dumping and antitrust issues, the speculation surrounding Thompson’s death only deepened when reports emerged that disturbing messages had been found on shell casings at the crime scene. 

According to ABC News, police sources revealed that the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" were written on the casings.

The message quickly sparked interest online, as social media users connected the words to the 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It, written by insurance law expert Professor Jay M. Feinman. 

While the NYPD has not confirmed any link between the book and the bullet casings, the connection has fueled further speculation about the motive.

Another theory gaining traction, supported by former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi, suggests that Thompson’s murder could be related to UnitedHealthcare’s high claim denial rates. 

According to The Boston Globe, UnitedHealthcare's denial rate in 2023 was 32%, significantly higher than the industry average of 16%. With millions of insured individuals facing claim denials, some have speculated that the shooter may have been a person who had been denied coverage by the company.

In April 2024, over 100 demonstrators gathered outside UnitedHealthcare’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, protesting the company’s widespread claim denials. 

These protests and the mounting dissatisfaction among customers added fuel to the growing conspiracy theories surrounding Thompson's death.

As the NYPD continues its investigation, a manhunt is underway for the suspect, who fled the scene following the shooting. 

Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest, but as of now, no official motive has been confirmed.