The shooting of Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan early on Wednesday morning has sparked a rapid investigation by local police. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the identification of the suspect responsible for the fatal attack on the 50-year-old executive. Preliminary investigations suggest that Thompson was a target of a premeditated killing, as evidenced by the fact that his belongings were left behind following the shooting.
The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. EST, as Thompson was set to deliver remarks at an investor conference later in the day. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the suspect, described as wearing a black face mask and a cream jacket, loitered outside the hotel for about five minutes before ambushing Thompson. He shot Thompson in the back and leg, leaving the scene on foot before being spotted riding away on an electric bicycle in Central Park.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed that the suspect’s firearm may have malfunctioned during the attack, but he managed to resolve the issue and continue firing. Shortly before the incident, the suspect was captured on surveillance footage at a nearby Starbucks, although his face was obscured by the mask. Investigators are employing facial recognition technology to analyze the footage while examining bullet casings and live rounds recovered at the scene for potential DNA evidence.
Despite these investigative measures, a clear motive for the shooting remains elusive. Thompson's wife revealed that he had received threats prior to the incident, although specific details were not disclosed. Furthermore, police records from Thompson's previous residence in Maple Grove, Minnesota, indicated one suspicious event in 2018, which did not yield any criminal conclusions. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are committed to uncovering the truth behind this shocking crime.
The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. EST, as Thompson was set to deliver remarks at an investor conference later in the day. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the suspect, described as wearing a black face mask and a cream jacket, loitered outside the hotel for about five minutes before ambushing Thompson. He shot Thompson in the back and leg, leaving the scene on foot before being spotted riding away on an electric bicycle in Central Park.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed that the suspect’s firearm may have malfunctioned during the attack, but he managed to resolve the issue and continue firing. Shortly before the incident, the suspect was captured on surveillance footage at a nearby Starbucks, although his face was obscured by the mask. Investigators are employing facial recognition technology to analyze the footage while examining bullet casings and live rounds recovered at the scene for potential DNA evidence.
Despite these investigative measures, a clear motive for the shooting remains elusive. Thompson's wife revealed that he had received threats prior to the incident, although specific details were not disclosed. Furthermore, police records from Thompson's previous residence in Maple Grove, Minnesota, indicated one suspicious event in 2018, which did not yield any criminal conclusions. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are committed to uncovering the truth behind this shocking crime.
