The seek for the masked gunman has been ongoing for the reason that Wednesday morning capturing left Thompson preventing for his life outdoors the New York Hilton Midtown lodge forward of a UnitedHealth Group investor assembly.
NYPD police officers mentioned Thompson seemed to be focused in a “brazen” and “premeditated” assault.
Dramatic surveillance video obtained by NBC New York seems to point out Thompson strolling down the sidewalk on 54th Avenue in direction of the lodge entrance when the gunman comes up behind him and shoots him within the again. Police mentioned the shooter’s gun jammed however he was capable of clear it a number of occasions and shoot Thompson within the entrance earlier than leaving the scene, first on foot after which on an e-bike.
Thompson, 50, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021.
His suspected killer rode an e-bike to Central Park and was final seen within the space of Heart Drive on Wednesday morning.
Police used drones, helicopters and canine in an intense search, however the killer’s whereabouts remained unknown late into the night time.
New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned that whereas investigators had not but established a motive, the capturing was no random act of violence.
“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,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned.
Police issued a number of surveillance photos of the person, who wore a hooded jacket and a masks that hid most of his face and would not have attracted consideration on a frigid winter day. Among the photographs have been taken at a Starbucks espresso store shortly earlier than the capturing.
The police division supplied a reward of as much as $10,000 for data resulting in an arrest and conviction.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based dad or mum firm, UnitedHealth Group Inc., mentioned in an announcement. “We’re working carefully with the New York Police Division and ask on your persistence and understanding throughout this tough time.”
Eric Werner, the police chief within the Minneapolis suburb the place Thompson lived, mentioned his division had not obtained any studies of threats in opposition to the manager.
Police initially mentioned the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from town’s bike-share program, CitiBike. However a spokesperson for this system’s operator, Lyft, mentioned police officers knowledgeable the corporate Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.
Well being care big UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual assembly with buyers to replace Wall Avenue on the corporate’s course and expectations for the approaching 12 months. The corporate ended the convention early within the wake of Thompson’s demise.
Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the corporate since 2004 and served as CEO for greater than three years.
UnitedHealthcare is the most important supplier of Medicare Benefit plans within the U.S. and manages medical insurance protection for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid applications.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”
