This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/04/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-what-we-know-so-far
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare CEO fatal shooting: what we know so far | UnitedHealthcare CEO fatal shooting: what we know so far |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police search for gunman after Brian Thompson, 50, killed in Manhattan in ‘brazen targeted attack’ | Police search for gunman after Brian Thompson, 50, killed in Manhattan in ‘brazen targeted attack’ |
| Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the the US’s largest health insurers, was fatally shot in the chest on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan by an unidentified man. | Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the the US’s largest health insurers, was fatally shot in the chest on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan by an unidentified man. |
| Here’s everything we know about the shooting: | Here’s everything we know about the shooting: |
| 1. Thompson was 50 years old, lived in Minnesota and had been CEO since 2021 | 1. Thompson was 50 years old, lived in Minnesota and had been CEO since 2021 |
| Brian Thompson lived in Minnesota, but had been in New York for the annual UnitedHealthcare investor conference taking place on Wednesday morning. | Brian Thompson lived in Minnesota, but had been in New York for the annual UnitedHealthcare investor conference taking place on Wednesday morning. |
| He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and had been the chief executive of Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. | He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and had been the chief executive of Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. |
| Before this role, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare and retirement and community and state. | Before this role, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare and retirement and community and state. |
| 2. Thompson was specifically targeted | 2. Thompson was specifically targeted |
| New York’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, called the shooting a “brazen targeted attack” that “does not appear to be a random act of violence”. | New York’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, called the shooting a “brazen targeted attack” that “does not appear to be a random act of violence”. |
| “I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack,” she said. | “I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack,” she said. |
| 3. Thompson’s wife has said that he had been receiving threats | 3. Thompson’s wife has said that he had been receiving threats |
| In a phone call to NBC News, Paulette Thompson said: “There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.” | In a phone call to NBC News, Paulette Thompson said: “There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.” |
| While she did not elaborate on “lack of coverage” to the network, the comment comes in the wake of backlash that UnitedHealthcare has experienced about their coverage. Earlier this year, protesters were arrested outside the company’s headquarters in Minnesota, who were reportedly there in an effort to shed light on the organization’s alleged “pattern of improper coverage denials”. | While she did not elaborate on “lack of coverage” to the network, the comment comes in the wake of backlash that UnitedHealthcare has experienced about their coverage. Earlier this year, protesters were arrested outside the company’s headquarters in Minnesota, who were reportedly there in an effort to shed light on the organization’s alleged “pattern of improper coverage denials”. |
| 4. The suspected shooter has not been identified and was last seen entering Central Park | 4. The suspected shooter has not been identified and was last seen entering Central Park |
| Police confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that the suspect appears to be a light-skinned male, wearing a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, a light-brown or cream-colored jacket, and a distinctive gray backpack. | Police confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that the suspect appears to be a light-skinned male, wearing a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, a light-brown or cream-colored jacket, and a distinctive gray backpack. |
| He fled the scene on foot at first and then got on an ebike. He was last seen entering Central Park on Central Drive before 7am. | He fled the scene on foot at first and then got on an ebike. He was last seen entering Central Park on Central Drive before 7am. |
| Police noted that they were working to gather information about the ebike, specifically its GPS tracker. | Police noted that they were working to gather information about the ebike, specifically its GPS tracker. |
| 5. The shooter was 'proficient' in firearms | |
| Video footage of the shooting showed that the suspect was “proficient in firearms” and able to clear a jam in his gun in the midst of the attack, police said. | Video footage of the shooting showed that the suspect was “proficient in firearms” and able to clear a jam in his gun in the midst of the attack, police said. |
| Police were not able to determine if a silencer was used from the glimpse of video that they currently have access to. | Police were not able to determine if a silencer was used from the glimpse of video that they currently have access to. |
| 6. A cellphone was found near the scene | 6. A cellphone was found near the scene |
| Officers recovered a cellphone near the scene of the shooting and are conducting forensic analysis to see if it is connected to either the victim or the suspect. | Officers recovered a cellphone near the scene of the shooting and are conducting forensic analysis to see if it is connected to either the victim or the suspect. |
| 7. Police are offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death | 7. Police are offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death |
| Police are searching for the gunman and offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death, as stated on a newly released flyer with two surveillance photos. | Police are searching for the gunman and offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death, as stated on a newly released flyer with two surveillance photos. |
| Jeffrey Maddrey, the NYPD’s chief of department, encouraged New Yorkers to go about their daily business, but to be alert in the Wednesday morning press conference. Maddrey also noted that the shooting would not affect the Rockefeller Center tree lighting scheduled for Wednesday evening, but added that there will be a “massive” police presence including a plainclothes detail. | Jeffrey Maddrey, the NYPD’s chief of department, encouraged New Yorkers to go about their daily business, but to be alert in the Wednesday morning press conference. Maddrey also noted that the shooting would not affect the Rockefeller Center tree lighting scheduled for Wednesday evening, but added that there will be a “massive” police presence including a plainclothes detail. |