A Crime Scene Unit officer images the scene the place CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson, 50, was shot and killed as he entered the New York Hilton resort early on December 4, 2024 in New York. | Photograph by Bryan R. SMITH / AFP
NEW YORK — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, focused assault” outdoors a Manhattan resort the place the well being insurer was holding its investor convention, police mentioned, setting off an enormous seek for the fleeing assailant hours earlier than the annual Rockefeller Middle Christmas tree lighting close by.
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot round 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a close-by resort, police mentioned.
The shooter gave the impression to be “mendacity in look ahead to a number of minutes” earlier than approaching Thompson from behind and opening fireplace, New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned. Police had not but established a motive.
“Many individuals handed the suspect, however he appeared to attend for his meant goal,” Tisch mentioned, including that the taking pictures “doesn’t seem like a random act of violence.”
This undated handout picture launched by UnitedHealth Group on December 4, 2024 reveals UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot lifeless by a masked gunman outdoors a New York resort on December 4 in an apparently focused hit.| Photograph by UnitedHealth Group / AFP
READ MORE:
Fil-Am bus operator shot lifeless by co-worker over playing debt
Hollywood actor’s dying sparks requires crackdown on violent crime
Cebu Metropolis police data 12 taking pictures incidents in November
Surveillance video reviewed by investigators reveals somebody rising from behind a parked automotive, pointing a gun at Thompson’s again, then firing a number of occasions from a number of toes away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a quick gun jam, as Thompson stumbles ahead and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks previous Thompson and out of the body.
“From watching the video, it does appear that he’s proficient in using firearms as he was in a position to clear the malfunctions fairly rapidly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned.
Thompson was shot not less than as soon as within the again and as soon as within the calf, Tisch mentioned.
The shooter, who wore a jacket, face masks and enormous backpack, fled by means of Midtown on foot earlier than pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a number of blocks away, police mentioned.
The assailant remained at giant Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and canines.
“Brian was a extremely revered colleague and good friend to all who labored with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based guardian firm, UnitedHealth Group Inc., mentioned in a press release. “We’re working carefully with the New York Police Division and ask in your endurance and understanding throughout this tough time.”
This handout picture launched by the New York Police Division (NYPD) by way of X (previously Twitter) on December 4, 2024 reveals the person sought in connection to the taking pictures of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. | Photograph by NYPD / AFP
Police issued a poster exhibiting a surveillance picture of the person pointing what gave the impression to be a gun and one other picture that appeared to point out the identical individual on a bicycle.
Minutes earlier than the taking pictures, he stopped at a close-by Starbucks, in accordance with further surveillance photographs launched by police on Wednesday afternoon. They provided a reward of as much as $10,000 for data resulting in an arrest and conviction.
Thompson’s spouse, Paulette Thompson, informed NBC Information that he informed her “there have been some folks that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have particulars however recommended the threats could have concerned points with insurance coverage protection.
Eric Werner, the police chief within the Minneapolis suburb the place Thompson lived, mentioned his division had not obtained any reviews of threats in opposition to the chief.
The killing shook part of New York Metropolis that’s usually quiet at that hour, taking place about 4 blocks from the place tens of hundreds of individuals have been set to assemble for Wednesday night time’s tree lighting. Police promised further safety for the occasion.
The resort can be a brief stroll from different vacationer websites, together with the Museum of Trendy Artwork and Radio Metropolis Music Corridor, and is usually dense with workplace staff and guests on weekday mornings. Many safety cameras are close by.
“We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their each day lives and their each day enterprise however to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey mentioned.
Investigators recovered a number of 9 mm shell casings from outdoors the resort and a cellphone from the alleyway by means of which the shooter fled.
They have been additionally looking Thompson’s resort room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny mentioned.
This handout picture launched by the New York Police Division (NYPD) by way of X (previously Twitter) on December 4, 2024 reveals the person sought in connection to the taking pictures of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Photograph by NYPD / AFP
Police mentioned the e-bike that the shooter used to experience into Central Park got here from town’s bike-share program, CitiBike. A spokesperson for Lyft, which operates this system, mentioned police had not but contacted the corporate.
Well being care big UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual assembly with buyers to replace Wall Avenue on the corporate’s course and expectations for the approaching yr. The corporate ended the convention early within the wake of Thompson’s dying.
“I’m afraid that we — a few of it’s possible you’ll know we’re coping with a really severe medical state of affairs with considered one of our staff members,” an organization official informed attendees, in accordance with a transcript.
“And consequently, I’m afraid we’re going to should bring to a halt the occasion at the moment. … I’m certain you’ll perceive.”
Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the corporate since 2004 and served as CEO for greater than three years.
UnitedHealthcare is the biggest supplier of Medicare Benefit plans within the U.S. and manages medical insurance protection for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid packages.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s household and the UnitedHealthcare staff.”
“That is horrifying information and a horrible loss for the enterprise and well being care group in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.
Learn Subsequent