'Not a top-tier assassin': UnitedHealthCare CEO shooter lowered mask to flirt with hostel worker

One of photos released by the New York City Police Department of the suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Thursday showed him smiling with his mask off, according to The Hill.

CNN's Kaitlin Collins reported Thursday evening, "Wow. Per @JohnMillerCNN, among the interviews law enforcement has been conducting, they spoke to a female employee at the hostel who said, at one point, she asked the then-masked man to lower his mask while flirting with him, which is when this photo released by NYPD today was taken."

Rolling Stone reported, "Law enforcement confirmed to CNN that they had interviewed a female employee of the hostel who said she had asked him to lower his neck gaiter face mask while flirting with him. (Security video frames from a Starbucks, released by the NYPD on Wednesday, showed a suspect whose lower face was covered by such a mask.)"

READ MORE: United Healthcare CEO gunned down outside Manhattan hotel: report

Several journalists and political experts reacted to the news

Crooked Media's What a Day podcast host Jane Costa wrote: "Okay so you're not a top-tier assassin"

New York CNN correspondent Gloria Pazmino replied: "You couldn’t script it if you tried"

Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (FL) said: "Wow."

READ MORE: CEO’s murder provokes 'dark' humor in response to America’s 'dysfunctional healthcare system'