What We Know About the Shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City | US News

Authorities in New York City are on the lookout for the individual responsible for the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the chief executive officer of the nation’s largest health insurance provider, which occurred outside a Manhattan hotel on Wednesday.

At 50 years old, Thompson led UnitedHealthcare, noted as the fourth-largest public company in America.

He was reportedly attacked by what specialists describe as a “skilled, professional assassin,” who shot him while he was approaching the hotel hosting an investors’ conference for his company.

What transpired?

The incident took place at 6:45 AM on Wednesday, just prior to dawn.

Brian Thompson was in New York City to attend UnitedHealthcare’s annual investors’ conference, scheduled to begin at 8 AM.

As he neared the entrance of the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, CCTV footage captured a shooter emerging from two parked vehicles behind him.

The assailant brandished a firearm and discharged it multiple times from a distance of approximately 15 feet (4.6m) as Thompson stood on the pavement.

Thompson sustained gunshot wounds to his back and calf before collapsing to the ground.

The weapon, believed to be equipped with a 9mm suppressor, appears to have jammed, prompting the shooter to resolve the issue and fire again.

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Observing the incident was at least one bystander; however, the gunman did not approach them but instead fled across the street and vanished into an alleyway.

Authorities have released wanted posters featuring CCTV images of the suspect on an electric bike, stating he escaped the scene and was last sighted riding in Central Park.

Emergency services later processed the location, which is in close proximity to Rockefeller Center, where the annual Christmas lights ceremony was scheduled a few hours later.

The UnitedHealthcare conference commenced on schedule, but about an hour later, Andrew Whitty, the CEO of the parent group, addressed attendees to announce its cancellation.

Who was Brian Thompson?

Brian Thompson began his career at UnitedHealthcare in 2004, transitioning from an accounting firm, and was appointed CEO in April 2021. Prior to this, he led the company’s government programs division.

UnitedHealthcare stands as the predominant provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States and oversees insurance plans for employers as well as state and federally funded programs.

Ranking fourth among public companies in the country, it follows behind Walmart, Amazon, and Apple.

He resided in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, an approximate 20-minute drive from company headquarters.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, he was married and a father of two.

His spouse, Paulette Thompson, mentioned to NBC News that he had intimated “some individuals had been making threats” against him, but provided no additional specifics.

The police chief from Thompson’s suburb, Eric Werner, stated that no reports of threats had been filed with his department.

Thompson’s sister-in-law, Elena Reveiz, expressed her sadness to the New York Times, stating, “He was a good person, and I am heartbroken.”

UnitedHealthcare acknowledged him as a “respected colleague” and a “friend to all who collaborated with him” in their statement.

What information is available about the suspect?

Officials are treating the shooting as a “premeditated, deliberate, targeted attack,” indicating it was “not a random act of violence.”

New York police commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that the perpetrator seemed to have been “waiting for several minutes” for Thompson to arrive at the hotel.

The 911 report describes the assailant as around 5 feet 10 inches, clad in black attire, with a masked face and carrying a grey backpack.

Former FBI special agent Terry Rankhorn indicated the behavior of the shooter suggests he was “definitely a skilled and professional assassin.” He added, “The individual meticulously tracked his target; he didn’t rush up as an inexperienced or emotionally driven amature would. He took careful aim before firing.”

Rankhorn indicated that the firearm likely malfunctioned owing to a mismatch between the 9mm silencer and the probable subsonic ammunition.

“An improper suppressor can lead to issues,” he noted. “Nonetheless, the shooter demonstrated competency in addressing the problem.”

Rankhorn also noted the suspect’s apparent disregard for an onlooker during the assault.

“He assesses the bystander to determine whether they pose any threat… concluding they are not and refocusing his efforts on his target,” he indicated.

Crime scene investigators located multiple 9mm shell casings at the scene and a mobile device in the alley where the assailant escaped.

The authorities also checked Thompson’s hotel room, interrogated his associates, and analyzed his social media accounts.

Rankhorn emphasized that any potential motive remains “purely speculative” at this initial stage, but suggested possibilities might include involvement in “white-collar crime,” with associated parties fearing whistleblowing, or perhaps an “insider stock trading scandal.”

Police have not disclosed the gunman’s rationale thus far and are offering a reward of $10,000 (£7,860) for information leading to his capture.