UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what appears to be a cold-blooded, targeted attack in Manhattan, New York City police officials said. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m., just before Thompson was scheduled to attend an investor conference at the Hilton Midtown hotel. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the killing as a “targeted attack.” She added, “The killer appeared to have known in advance which entrance Thompson was going to use, striking at the West 54th Street door.”
The shooter, who is still at large, fled on foot and later used an electric bicycle to escape into Central Park. Commissioner Tisch said, “It clearly appears that this was a targeted attack by one individual, and we are going to catch him.”
Although a clear motive for the killing has not been established, investigations are ongoing. According to CBS News, law enforcement is reviewing surveillance video and has collected images of the shooting. Investigators are also combing through files for possible prior threats or disgruntled employees, a law enforcement official told the outlet.
Mayor Eric Adams told AP that the event is being thoroughly investigated. “We are looking at the evidence collected at the scene, including the videos.” Meanwhile, Elena Reveiz, the deceased man’s sister-in-law, expressed shock and concern for Thompson’s family, telling ABC News: “We are very sad at this time. Brian was a good father to his two children.”
As for the development of the conference, which is part of UnitedHealthcare’s annual routine, the company informed attendees that the event would be suspended after news of the murder broke. UnitedHealthcare, the insurance arm of healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group Inc., had scheduled the event to update Wall Street on the company’s expectations and direction for the coming year.
The scene of the incident is known for being a busy area of Manhattan, in the vicinity of tourist spots such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Rockefeller Center. The site was cordoned off with police tape to allow for the investigation, several media reported. The lighting of the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was scheduled for that night, which attracts large numbers of tourists and locals.
What we know about Brian Thompson's killer
The NYPD said so far it has not been able to identify the suspect, who was described as a white man wearing a brown jacket and black and white sneakers. He was carrying a gray backpack and was last seen fleeing east on Sixth Avenue.
Physical description:
Light-skinned man.
He was wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, black face mask, and black and white sneakers.
He was carrying a gray backpack.
Behavior prior to the attack:
He arrived in the vicinity of the Hilton Hotel approximately five minutes before the victim appeared. He remained waiting along the building line, observing the pedestrian crossing without interacting.
Execution of the attack:
He followed the victim from behind and fired several shots, hitting at least once in the back and once in the right calf.
He ignored other pedestrians, suggesting that the attack was specifically aimed at the victim.
During the shooting, the gun malfunctioned, which the attacker fixed before continuing to shoot.
