New York Police have launched a manhunt for the shooter who murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson this Wednesday morning as he arrived for the company’s annual investor conference at the Hilton Hotel on Avenida das Américas. Authorities announced they are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the shooter’s capture.
A pamphlet with two surveillance camera photos showing the crime was released to the public. In one of the images, a man dressed all in black with a gray backpack appears, holding a firearm. In the other, the shooter, who was wearing a hood and mask, is on a bicycle, after the attack.
O New York Times reported that the shooter seemed to know which door Thompson was going to enter the hotel through and that he shot him several times, just a few meters away, before fleeing.
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Police said they believe Thompson was the target of the attack. This was a “targeted attack,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, adding that it “does not appear to be a random act of violence.”
“I want to be clear at this point, all indications are that this was a premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack,” he added.
According to the newspaper The GuardianNew York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Thompson was found by police on the sidewalk in front of the Hilton with gunshot wounds to his back and leg. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. (local time).
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The shooter arrived at the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived at the scene, police said. From surveillance video, police said Thompson was seen at 6:44 a.m. walking alone toward the Hilton.
The video shows the shooter appearing to ignore other pedestrians passing by. He approaches Thompson from behind and shoots the executive in the back before moving towards the victim and continuing to shoot.
The shooter fled north into an alley between 54th and 55th Streets. He continued to walk west on Avenue of the Americas, where he picked up an electric Citi Bike and headed north on Avenue of the Americas toward Central Park.
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Police say they recovered three live nine-millimeter shell casings, as well as a cellphone.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thomspon, told NBC News that he was receiving threats.
Thompson was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to the company. Prior to this role, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s government programs, including Medicare and Retirement and Community and State. Before leading government programs, Thompson served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement.
