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The investigation into and search for the masked gunman who 

 the head of UnitedHealthcare has moved into its third day. Possible leads have emerged about his travel before the shooting and a message scrawled on ammunition found at the crime scene.

Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department has confirmed to MPR News that investigators believe the gunman may have left New York City by bus.

Police officials say they have video footage of the suspect taking a taxi cab to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Video also shows the suspect entering the terminal but not leaving.

The spokesperson said investigators do now know which bus the suspect boarded and are working to determine that. The terminal is used by interstate buses, which is why authorities believe he has left the city.

Another Minnesota-based health insurer taking precautions after the shooting

Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations.

The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday.

“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.”

Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution.

Other Minnesota insurers say they are concerned about the safety of their workers, even as they hesitate to say whether or how they have adjusted security. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota said in a statement that they are committed to providing a safe workplace to all employees and have taken action at their Eagan headquarters. The nonprofit is also asking employees to remain aware and vigilant and report any unusual activity. 

In a statement, HealthPartners said “they share the sorrow felt throughout our community in the aftermath of this act” and would not comment on security measures that are reviewed regularly. 

The Minnesota Council of Health Plans is not closing its office but they are reviewing security, and the fatal shooting has created a new level of unease in an industry already under strain. 

The council that represents nonprofit health insurers said in a statement the “vitriol on social media following this tragic event is unsettling and concerning. Thousands of people work for health plans here in the Twin Cities and across the state. Not only are these Minnesotans dedicated and invested in supporting access to care, but they also receive their care here, they raise families here and they support their communities.” 

A moment of flirtation led to an image of the man’s face, law enforcement official says

Investigators have learned the man lowered his mask at the front desk of the hostel because he was flirting with the woman who checked him in, the law enforcement official said, leading to a photo of his face.

The woman told investigators that during that encounter she asked to see his smile and he pulled down his mask, the official said.

The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning

Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said.

UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family

The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators.

“While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said.

Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website

Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely.

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing raises questions on security of top executives

Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual

The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO 

 in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.”

Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage.

NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews

But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter.

“We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX.

Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta

Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said.

Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled.

Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass

The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats.

Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say.

Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks.

Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer

Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.

Investigators worked to piece together more of the timeline of the gunman’s whereabouts before the shooting, examine security camera footage and even 

 and protein bar wrapper in a hunt for his DNA.

MPR News reporters Nicole Ki and Erica Zurek contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press

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As the investigation into a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of one of the largest U.S. health insurers moves into its third day, possible leads have emerged about his travel before the shooting and a message scrawled on ammunition.

Stefan Jeremiah | AP

New York City Police Department via AP

entrance of a hotel with crime scene tape

Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

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