NEW YORK – Police are intensifying their search for the man who fatally shot Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in a calculated attack outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday morning. The suspect, masked and armed, was last seen fleeing into Central Park.
The killing, described by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as “premeditated and targeted,” occurred near the Hilton on Sixth Avenue just before UnitedHealth’s annual investor conference. Thompson, 50, was shot in the back by an assailant who had been lying in wait.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Tisch said during a press briefing.
Shooter Captured on Video
Security footage showed the masked gunman, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and balaclava, aiming a handgun at Thompson before fleeing on an electric bike. Police released images from the video, including a close-up of the suspect’s eyes and nose taken from a nearby café, urging the public to help identify him.
Photos also show the suspect raising the gun and later speeding away, with police warning he remains at large.
Investigation and Impact
Authorities have not identified a motive or named a suspect but are treating the shooting as a highly coordinated attack. Police departments in Thompson’s hometown of Maple Grove, Minnesota, and nearby Minneapolis reported no prior threats or incidents involving him.
The attack occurred just hours before the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, an event that went ahead under heightened security.
Thompson, who had worked at UnitedHealth since 2004, became CEO of the company’s insurance unit in 2021. UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S., is dealing with the fallout of a major data breach affecting its Change Healthcare unit, which has disrupted patient care and medical reimbursements.
“Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him,” UnitedHealth said in a statement.
City on Alert
The killing has heightened concerns during New York’s holiday season, which is expected to draw over 7.5 million visitors. Police are urging vigilance as the search for the suspect continues.
“We are leaving no stone unturned,” Tisch emphasized, as investigators comb through evidence to bring the assailant to justice.