UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: New photos of suspected gunman released as manhunt intensifies
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan
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New York City police have released new photos of the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as the manhunt intensifies.
Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting on Wednesday morning when he was gunned down around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was taken to Mount Sinai West where he was pronounced dead.
Police say Thompson was “specifically targeted” in the “brazen attack” by a gunman who is still at large after fleeing the scene on an e-bike. The suspect is described as a white male dressed entirely in black, with a black ski mask, and carrying a gray backpack.
Photos from surveillance footgae show the hooded suspect standing in front of the counter at a Starbucks at West 56th Street and 6th Avenue just minutes before the shooting at the nearby hotel.
While the attack appears to be targeted, police said they do not yet have a motive for the shooting. NYPD Crime Stoppers has announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Thompson, who was also a father of two, joined parent company UnitedHealth Group in 2004, and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021. He was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting at the hotel at 8 a.m.
Elena Reveiz, Thompson’s sister-in-law, told The New York Times that she is still processing the news but said that her brother “was a good person, and I am so sad.”
Shooting of CEO Brian Thompson was a ‘brazen targeted attack’
The press conference is now happening at 1 Police Plaza.
Newly appointed police commissioner Jessica Tisch called the killing a “brazen targeted attack.”
Hilton hotel staff ‘shaken’ by fatal shooting
Mark Sanders, the general manager of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan, wrote in an email that the hotel staff was shaken by the deadly shooting, according to The New York Times.
The hotel is where the crime took place this morning.
“We are deeply saddened by this morning’s events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy,” he said.
Police release surveillance photos of suspect in CEO shooting
Mayor Eric Adams responds to Midtown shooting
Mayor Eric Adams told reporters on Wednesday that the early morning killing of CEO Brian Thompson appeared to be targeted.
“We want to be clear to New Yorkers that this does not appear to be a random act of violence,” he said.
‘We are deeply saddened by this morning’s events’
A New York Hilton Midtown spokesperson commented on the shooting outside their hotel.
“We are deeply saddened by this morning’s events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy,” the spokesperson told CNN.
“Additional questions should be directed to the New York Police Department.”
What we know about the suspect as manhunt is underway
The suspected gunman reportedly waited for Thompson outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan for 10 minutes before opening fire on him when he arrived.
He then fled through an alleyway, hopped on a bicycle and it’s believed he fled to Central Park.
The suspect was described by witnesses at the scene as a white male wearing a cream-colored jacket and a black ski mask.
Like Thompson, he also was not a guest at the hotel, but was seen loitering in the vicinity prior to opening fire on the victim.
The police said they would offer $10,000 to anyone with information regarding the shooting of Thompson, according to The New York Times.
Two surveillance photos – one of the gunman holding a firearm and the other of him on a bicycle – are set to be released.
Who was UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson, who joined parent company UnitedHealth Group in 2004, and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, was reportedly shot in the chest on Wednesday morning.
Thompson was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton at 8 a.m. when he was shot outside the hotel around 6:46a.m. in what police believe was a targeted attack.
Thompson was named chief executive officer for UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, ranked fifth in the Fortune 500, according to the company.
Before taking the CEO job, Thompson, a father of two who works out of UnitedHealthcare’s Minnetonka, Minnesota offices, worked as the company’s head of government programs.
Elena Reveiz, sister of CEO Brian Thompson, told The New York Times that she is still processing the news of her brother’s death.
“He was a good person and I am so sad,” Reveiz said.
Thompson was also a good father to his two children, she added.
Police to give update on shooting shortly
New York’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, and Jeffrey Maddrey, chief of department, will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. at 1 Police Plaza in Manhattan.
CEO’s sister: ‘He was a good person and I am so sad’
Elena Reveiz, sister of CEO Brian Thompson, told The New York Times that she is still processing the news of her brother’s death.
“He was a good person and I am so sad,” Reveiz said.
Thompson was a good father to his two children, she added.
Tim Walz responds to Midtown shooting
This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) December 4, 2024
Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team. https://t.co/6lAL2lJXzn