(R) Shooting suspect; (L) Brian Thompson.Photo:NYPD CrimeStoppers; UnitedHealth Group
NYPD CrimeStoppers; UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Manhattan early Wednesday morning in whatpolice have said appears to be a “brazen, targeted attack"on the insurance CEO.
A masked gunman was “lying in wait” outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan just before 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, police say. When Thompson, 50, appeared outside the hotel, possibly to help set up for an investors' conference scheduled for today, the gunman fired at least three rounds at the executive, hitting him in the back and leg.
The gunman fled the scene. Thompson, meanwhile, was transported to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.
“At this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
As of Thursday afternoon, the suspect remained at large. PEOPLE covered the developments in the case as it unfolded. Keep reading for a full recap.
Police Look to ID Fingerprint on Water Bottle Left at Scene: Reports
December 05, 2024 02:45 PM EST
Police in New York are also working to unlock a cell phone that was left in an alleyway near the scene, per CNN.
December 05, 2024 12:12 PM EST
The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on bullet casings tied to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Midtown Manhattan killing, police sources toldABC News.
The words are similar to “delay, deny, defend,” a phrase describing a purported insurance industry strategy for rejecting claims.
According to ABC News, NYPD detectives are working to establish whether the words found on the casing were meant as a message and a hint at the shooter’s motive.
Police officials previously said that the gunman, who remains at large as of Thursday, Dec. 5, deliberately targeted the 50-year-old CEO.
Police Release New, Unmasked Photo of Smiling ‘Person of Interest’
December 05, 2024 11:43 AM EST
The NYPD has released new photos depicting a “person of interest” in the shooting of Brian Thompson.
Thetwo photos posted to Xshow a smiling man wearing a brown jacket with the hood up, and no face mask.
The images were taken from surveillance footage at an Upper West Side hostel where the man is believed to have stayed prior to the shooting, a police source confirmed to PEOPLE.
The man was last seen riding an electric bicycle into Central Park; police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
NYPDnews/X
Who Was UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?December 04, 2024 04:04 PM ESTCopy The Link To This Blog PostIn astatementissued after Thompson’s killing, UnitedHealth Group said, “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.“Thompson began his career at UnitedHealthCare in 2004 as director of Corporate Development and was named CEO in April 2021, according to hisLinkedIn profile.“Prior to this role, I served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s governmentprograms business including Medicare & Retirement, the largest business dedicated to the health and well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries,” he wrote.Thompson worked as a CPA at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC for six years before that. In 1997, he graduated from the University of Iowa.
Who Was UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?
December 04, 2024 04:04 PM EST
In astatementissued after Thompson’s killing, UnitedHealth Group said, “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
Thompson began his career at UnitedHealthCare in 2004 as director of Corporate Development and was named CEO in April 2021, according to hisLinkedIn profile.
“Prior to this role, I served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s governmentprograms business including Medicare & Retirement, the largest business dedicated to the health and well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries,” he wrote.
Thompson worked as a CPA at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC for six years before that. In 1997, he graduated from the University of Iowa.
Newly-Released Photos Show Face of Brian Thompson Shooting Suspect, as Killer Remains at Large
December 04, 2024 03:37 PM EST
In a post on X, the NYPD urged anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect to contact police at 1-800-577-TIPS.
NYPD
Video Appears to Show First Responders Administering CPR
December 04, 2024 03:15 PM EST
The video shows someone doing chest compressions on a person who is lying on the sidewalk. Later, a person is seen being taken into an ambulance on a stretcher.
PEOPLE has not independently confirmed that the person shown being tended to in the video is Thompson.
Chilling Video Apparently Shows the Moment Gunman Shot at Brian Thompson
December 04, 2024 02:06 PM EST
Chilling video shows the moment an assassin appears to fatally shoot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The gunman appears to quickly fix a jam in his 9mm handgun before calmly strolling up behind Thompson and firing more rounds, before walking away.
The perpetrator has not been caught. He was last seen heading into Central Park on an electric Citi Bike at around 6:48 a.m., police say. Thompson was pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital at 7:12 a.m.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned male wearing a light brown or cream colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a “very distinctive grey backpack.”
Gunman Appears to be ‘Proficient’ With Firearms: PoliceDecember 04, 2024 01:13 PM ESTCopy The Link To This Blog PostThe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appears to have been “proficient” in the use of firearms, police say, though they cannot say with certainty if he was a professional hitman.The 9mm handgun he used to shoot Thompson jammed, but the gunman was able to “clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” suggesting he is familiar with firearms, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.Police have not yet identified a motive for the shooting, thoughThompson’s wife Paulette told NBC Newshe had recently been receiving threats.Investigators are interviewing Thompson’s employees and family members in Minnesota, and the NYPD has executed a search warrant on his hotel room.
Gunman Appears to be ‘Proficient’ With Firearms: Police
December 04, 2024 01:13 PM EST
The gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appears to have been “proficient” in the use of firearms, police say, though they cannot say with certainty if he was a professional hitman.
The 9mm handgun he used to shoot Thompson jammed, but the gunman was able to “clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” suggesting he is familiar with firearms, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.Police have not yet identified a motive for the shooting, thoughThompson’s wife Paulette told NBC Newshe had recently been receiving threats.
Investigators are interviewing Thompson’s employees and family members in Minnesota, and the NYPD has executed a search warrant on his hotel room.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Will Go on as Normal, Police SayDecember 04, 2024 01:13 PM ESTCopy The Link To This Blog PostTonight’s Christmas Tree lighting at Rockefeller Center is expected to go on as normal after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a few blocks away. Police say they will have a heavy presence in the area.“This incident will not affect the tree lighting,” said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who noted the ceremony will start at 7 p.m. and the lighting at 10 p.m. “We will have a massive police presence out there around Rockefeller Center, from 52nd Street all the way down to 47th Street.“Police presence will be beefed up on the subway as well. “This is a terrible event, but we’re going to go on, and people are going to enjoy the tree lighting tonight,” said Maddrey.The suspect was last seen fleeing on an electric Citi Bike into Central Park, which is in the opposite direction of Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Will Go on as Normal, Police Say
Tonight’s Christmas Tree lighting at Rockefeller Center is expected to go on as normal after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a few blocks away. Police say they will have a heavy presence in the area.
“This incident will not affect the tree lighting,” said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who noted the ceremony will start at 7 p.m. and the lighting at 10 p.m. “We will have a massive police presence out there around Rockefeller Center, from 52nd Street all the way down to 47th Street.”
Police presence will be beefed up on the subway as well. “This is a terrible event, but we’re going to go on, and people are going to enjoy the tree lighting tonight,” said Maddrey.
The suspect was last seen fleeing on an electric Citi Bike into Central Park, which is in the opposite direction of Rockefeller Center.
Refresh for New Updates
source: people.com
