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UnitedHealthcare CEO fatal shooting: what we know so far Brian Thompson shooting: what we know about the killing and the suspect so far
(about 1 hour later)
Police search for gunman after Brian Thompson, 50, killed in Manhattan in ‘brazen targeted attack’ New York police use facial recognition as they work to identify suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the the US’s largest health insurers, was fatally shot on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan by an unidentified man. The hunt for the suspect in the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, has entered a second day – with New York police using facial recognition technology and a discarded cellphone to find the shooter.
Here’s everything we know about the shooting. Thompson, who ran one of the the US’s largest health insurers, was fatally shot on Wednesday in midtown Manhattan by an unidentified man. Shell casings found at the scene reportedly had the words “deny”, “defend” and “depose” written on them.
1. Thompson was 50, lived in Minnesota and had been CEO since 2021 Here’s what we know about Thompson, the shooting and the suspect so far:
Brian Thompson lived in Minnesota, but had been in New York for the annual UnitedHealthcare investor conference scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning. 1. How did the shooting unfold?
He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and had been the chief executive of Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. Brian Thompson was shot outside a midtown Manhattan hotel at about 6.45am local time. He had been due to speak at a conference in the city on Wednesday.
Before this role, he had served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare and retirement, and community and state. The latest image released by police reportedly showed the suspect at a Starbucks coffee shop minutes before the shooting. The suspected shooter was wearing a dark jacket with the hood up, a dark mask pulled up over his nose, dark trousers and a grey backpack.
2. Thompson was specifically targeted Surveillance footage showed a person believed to be the shooter making a phone call near the hotel at about 6.30am ET. According to police, the suspect appeared to be waiting for the UnitedHealthcare CEO for several minutes.
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.
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.”
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, and 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
Images of a suspect released by the New York police department (NYPD) on Wednesday showed him wearing a dark jacket with the hood up, a dark mask pulled up over his nose, dark trousers and a grey backpack.
The latest image released by police reportedly shows the suspect at a Starbucks coffee shop minutes before the shooting.
The gunman arrived at the location on foot about five minutes before Thompson’s arrival, police said. From surveillance video, police said Thompson was seen at 6.44am ET walking alone towards the Hilton.
Officials said he approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the back before moving toward the victim and continuing to shoot. Ultimately, Thompson was shot in the back and at least once in the calf.Officials said he approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the back before moving toward the victim and continuing to shoot. Ultimately, Thompson was shot in the back and at least once in the calf.
Authorities said the gun appeared to malfunction, and the gunman cleared the jam before firing again and fleeing northbound into an alleyway between 54th Street and 55th Street. The shooter then continued to walk westbound on the Avenue of the Americas, where he got on to an electric Citi Bike and rode northbound towards Central Park.Authorities said the gun appeared to malfunction, and the gunman cleared the jam before firing again and fleeing northbound into an alleyway between 54th Street and 55th Street. The shooter then continued to walk westbound on the Avenue of the Americas, where he got on to an electric Citi Bike and rode northbound towards Central Park.
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 whether a silencer had been used from the glimpse of video that they currently have access to.Police were not able to determine whether a silencer had been used from the glimpse of video that they currently have access to.
Police say they recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings.Police say they recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings.
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 whether it is connected to the victim or the suspect.Officers recovered a cellphone near the scene of the shooting and are conducting forensic analysis to see whether it is connected to the victim or the suspect.
7. Police are offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death 2. What do we know about the suspect’s whereabouts?
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. So far, the suspect’s current location remains unknown. New York police are using facial recognition technology and a discarded cellphone to find the shooter. It is believed they are focusing on the Starbucks footage to determine the shooter’s identity.
In the Wednesday morning press conference, Jeffrey Maddrey, the NYPD chief, encouraged New Yorkers to go about their daily business, but to be alert. Maddrey also said the shooting would not affect the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, scheduled for Wednesday evening, but added that there would be a “massive” police presence including a plainclothes detail. The attacker fled the scene without taking any of Thompson’s belongings. Video footage showed the suspect in the southern part of Central Park at about 6.48am local time, according to the BBC.
3. What do we know about the motive?
In short, not that much yet. New York’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, called Thompson’s killing 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.
However, the motive for the shooting remains unclear. Police are searching for the gunman and offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information regarding Thompson’s death.
4. Who was Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson was 50, lived in Minnesota and had been CEO since 2021. A father of two, Thompson lived in a suburb of Minneapolis, about a 20-minute drive from the company’s headquarters.
He was in New York for the annual UnitedHealthcare investor conference scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning.
An alumnus of the University of Iowa, Thompson joined the company in 2004 from accountancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was named chief executive officer for UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving in several other roles, most recently as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s government programs business.
Before this role, he had served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare and retirement, and community and state.
5. Had Thompson been receiving threats?
In a phone call to NBC News, Thompson’s wife Paulette 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, and were reportedly there in an effort to shed light on the organization’s alleged “pattern of improper coverage denials”.
This article was amended on 4 December 2024 to correct that Brian Thompson was shot in the back and the calf, not in the chest as an earlier version said.This article was amended on 4 December 2024 to correct that Brian Thompson was shot in the back and the calf, not in the chest as an earlier version said.