New York, NY — In what authorities are describing as a targeted and deliberate act, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning. The attack occurred just as Thompson was attending a scheduled investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown, prompting an intense and ongoing citywide manhunt for the assailant.
According to the New York Police Department, the 50-year-old executive was attacked around 6:45 a.m. Surveillance footage shows the suspect, having apparently waited for Thompson, stepping from behind a vehicle to shoot him from behind as he walked across the street towards the hotel. The gunman subsequently approached Thompson, continuing to fire even after pausing to clear a jammed weapon. Thompson sustained critical injuries to his back and leg.
Law enforcement officials indicated that the suspect fled the scene on foot before escaping northward on an electric bicycle along Avenue of the Americas. Police quickly located Thompson, who was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Roosevelt Hospital.
In response to the violent incident, NYPD investigators have been meticulously gathering video evidence and eyewitness accounts. It was revealed that the suspect had entered the city last month, traveling by bus from Atlanta to New York. Upon his arrival, he stayed at the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side, where he checked in under a false New Jersey license.
A breakthrough in the investigation came when hostel staff provided video surveillance images of the man, obtained during his check-in. The footage aided police in releasing clear images of the suspect to the public.
Prior to the assassination, the suspect was captured by cameras at several locations, including a nearby Starbucks and the Frederick Douglass Houses. Footage from the 57th Street subway station also placed him within mere blocks of the crime scene shortly before the shooting occurred.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, in a statement, underscored the precise and calculated nature of the attack, noting that the killer had waited patiently for his target amidst the morning crowd. This level of planning suggests a strong familiarity with Thompson’s routine or movements.
The city’s official response has been swift, with Mayor Eric Adams expressing his condolences and affirming that every resource would be allocated to apprehend the assailant. The case has not only rocked the local community but also the healthcare industry nationwide, raising concerns over the safety of high-profile executives.
Security analysts speculate that the assailant’s use of an e-bike and his comprehensive evasion tactics indicate a well-thought-out escape plan. This has led to discussions about potential enhancements in public space surveillance and security protocols, especially in areas frequented by business leaders.
The NYPD continues its exhaustive search, with detectives piecing together the suspect’s movements leading up to the shocking murder, hoping to close in on the fugitive before he can strike again or flee the city.
As the investigation progresses, the community remains in shock over the brazen nature of the crime, with many looking for answers not only about the identity of the killer but also his motives in executing such a calculated attack on a public figure in broad daylight.