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Thursday, January 30, 2025  
1 Shaban 1446  

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson assassinated in New York: Here is what we know

The shooting occurred around 6:45 am
Photo via CBS42
Photo via CBS42

A gunman killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where the health insurer was hosting its annual investor conference on Wednesday morning,.

The shooting, which occurred around 6:45 am, triggered a massive manhunt for the assailant, coinciding with the festive atmosphere of the nearby Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.

According to police, Thompson, 50, was walking alone from a nearby hotel to the conference when he was ambushed. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the shooter appeared to have been “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attack.

Commissioner Tisch noted that “many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” emphasizing that the shooting “does not appear to be a random act of violence.”

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators captured the chilling moment of the attack, showing the assailant emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, and firing multiple rounds from a short distance. The gunman continued to shoot, briefly interrupted by a gun jam, as Thompson stumbled forward and fell to the sidewalk. The shooter then walked past Thompson and left the scene.

 It shows the suspect who shot the CEO. New York City Police Department
It shows the suspect who shot the CEO. New York City Police Department

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny remarked, “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly.” Thompson sustained at least two gunshot wounds, one to his back and another to his calf.

Wearing a jacket, face mask, and a large backpack, the shooter fled on foot through Midtown before riding away on an electric bike into Central Park, just a few blocks from the scene of the crime. By Wednesday afternoon, the assailant remained at large, prompting an extensive search operation that involved police drones, helicopters, and search dogs.

In a statement, UnitedHealth Group Inc., the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, expressed their grief, stating, “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.” They pledged to cooperate closely with the New York Police Department and requested patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Authorities released a poster featuring a surveillance image of the gunman pointing what appeared to be a firearm, as well as another image of him on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, the suspect was seen stopping at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance footage. Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, revealed to NBC News that her husband had mentioned “some people that had been threatening him.” While she did not provide details, she suggested that the threats could have been related to insurance coverage issues. However, Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, stated that his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.

The incident has rattled an area of New York City typically quiet at that hour, occurring just four blocks from where thousands were expected to gather for the tree lighting ceremony later in the evening. Authorities pledged to enhance security measures for the event.

The hotel is also located near popular tourist attractions, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, making it a busy location with both office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. In response to the incident, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey urged New Yorkers to continue with their daily routines but to remain vigilant.

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Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone discarded in an alleyway used by the shooter to escape. They are also examining Thompson’s hotel room, interviewing his colleagues at UnitedHealthcare, and reviewing his social media accounts as part of the investigation.

Initially, police reported that the shooter had escaped on a CitiBike from the city’s bike-share program. However, a spokesperson for Lyft, the operator of CitiBike, later clarified that the bike used in the escape was not part of their fleet.

Similarly, the man suspected of killing 18 people and wounding 13 in a shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, was found dead of a likely self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday, ending a 48-hour manhunt that followed the most lethal episode of gun violence in the state’s history.

Two British-Israeli sisters were killed last year in a shooting attack on their car in the occupied West Bank, Israeli authorities said. Israel’s military said soldiers had arrived at the scene of a reported collision between Israeli and Palestinian vehicles near the Jewish settlement of Hamra and saw the Israeli car, with three people in it, had been shot up.

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