Suspected CEO shooter was never a UHC client: NYPD

NEW YORK (NewsNation) — The NYPD said Thursday evening the suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter was ne'er a lawsuit of the security company.

Police judge alternatively that fishy Luigi Mangione targeted Brian Thompson due to the fact that of the insurer’s size and power successful the industry.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York successful an interrogation Thursday that investigators person uncovered grounds Luigi Mangione had anterior cognition UnitedHealthcare was holding its yearly capitalist league successful New York City.

“We person nary denotation that helium was ever a lawsuit of United Healthcare, but helium does marque notation that it is the 5th largest corp successful America, which would marque it the largest wellness attraction enactment successful America. So that’s perchance wherefore helium targeted that company,” said Kenny.

UnitedHealthcare is successful the apical 20 largest U.S. companies by marketplace capitalization but is not the 5th largest. It is the largest U.S. wellness insurer.

Mangione remains jailed without bail successful Pennsylvania, wherever helium was arrested Monday aft being spotted astatine a McDonald's successful the metropolis of Altoona, astir 230 miles westbound of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey besides told NewsNation helium has yet to spot grounds decisively linking his lawsuit to the crime.

“I don’t privation radical to leap to these prejudgment things due to the fact that cipher would ever privation that if they were accused, oregon 1 of their loved ones were accused,” Dickey said exclusively connected “CUOMO” Tuesday.

Mangione is warring attempts to extradite him backmost to New York truthful that helium tin face a execution charge in Thompson's killing. A proceeding has been scheduled for Dec. 30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.