UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in what police referred to as a “brazen focused assault” in Manhattan early Wednesday.
A large manhunt is underway – and now in its third day – for the unidentified shooter, who fled the scene on a motorcycle. On Thursday, police searched a hostel within the Higher West Aspect the place they consider the suspect was staying, CNN reported Thursday morning. Authorities additionally launched photos of the suspect because the proceed to hunt for the killer.
Right here’s the whole lot we all know to date in regards to the deadly assault on the 50-year-old insurance coverage CEO:
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Thompson shot in ‘premeditated assault’
The unidentified shooter had been hiding behind a automotive exterior the Hilton resort in Midtown Manhattan for about 5 minutes when Thompson exited, police stated. The suspect was noticed at a close-by Starbucks on West 56th Avenue and sixth Avenue shortly earlier than the capturing.
The shooter, who was sporting a masks, approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the proper calf and again at 6.46 a.m. Video of the incident reveals the shooter calmly strolling up behind Thompson earlier than capturing him a number of instances, then calmly crossing the road. The footage additionally confirmed a bystander who witnessed the capturing and ran away because the suspect fired at Thompson.
Thompson was pronounced useless at a close-by hospital.
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“The shooter then walks towards the sufferer and continues to shoot. It seems that the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fireside once more,” New York Police Division’s (NYPD) chief of detectives Joseph Kenny informed reporters.
Police described the shooter as a white man sporting a black hoodie and black pants with a grey backpack. It’s believed the suspect used a gun with a silencer. A meals cart vendor close to the scene of the capturing informed NBC Information that he didn’t hear any gunshots.
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The shooter fled the scene by way of an alleyway on an e-bike. Police informed reporters e-bikes are outfitted with GPS units. He fled by way of Sixth Avenue to Central Park, the place he was final seen.
The capturing was a “premeditated, pre-planned focused assault,” police stated late on Wednesday morning. Thompson appeared unaware he was in peril and had no safety element close to him, Kenny informed reporters.
UnitedHealth Group, which owns the insurance coverage firm, was holding its annual Investor Convention on Wednesday. They’ve since canceled the occasion. Thompson was scheduled to talk there at 8am.
“Brian was a extremely revered colleague and good friend to all who labored with him,” the corporate stated in a press release. “Our hearts exit to Brian’s household and all who have been near him.”
The NYPD launched images of the suspect with out a masks on Thursday morning.
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Police don’t consider the shooter is an expert.
Skilled analysts who reviewed the footage informed The Wall Avenue Journal that the suspect dealt with the gun with talent. Kenny additionally acknowledged the shooter appeared to have expertise with weapons.
“It does appear he’s proficient in the usage of firearms,” the chief of detectives stated.
New clues emerge as manhunt heads into third day
As of Friday morning, new clues have emerged as police proceed to piece collectively info concerning the suspected assailant’s whereabouts earlier than the CEO was fatally shot.
The armed suspect is reported to have traveled by way of Greyhound bus to New York 10 days earlier than the horror capturing unfolded, based on legislation enforcement sources who spoke to CNN.
Sources say he arrived in New York Metropolis on 24 November after leaping on a bus departing from Atlanta however officers haven’t been in a position to pinpoint precisely the place he boarded – stating it might have been in Atlanta or elsewhere.
On the day he arrived in New York Metropolis, he was captured on CCTV surveillance stepping off the bus at round 9pm ET and noticed strolling by way of the Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, stated legislation enforcement sources.
He then checked into an Higher West Aspect hostel, left on 29 November, after which used a faux New Jersey driver’s license to verify again in on 30 November.
Whereas within the hostel, he’s reported to have slept in a multi-person room with two different males and wore a masks for almost all of his keep, as per CNN.
His whereabouts from 30 November to Wednesday morning are nonetheless unclear however he’s believed to have stayed on the hostel.
Each Greyhound and the hostel’s guardian firm, Hostelling Worldwide USA, informed ABC Information in a press release that they’re “absolutely cooperating with the NYPD” however can’t remark additional as a result of lively investigation.
Authorities discovered three stay 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings, in addition to a mobile phone, on the scene of the capturing. Additionally they recovered a sweet wrapper and water bottle believed to belong to the suspect, based on ABC Information.
Investigators have been in a position to carry one smudged fingerprint from the bottle, CNN experiences.
The bullet casings police discovered on the scene had the phrases “deny”, “defend” and “depose” written on them, ABC Information experiences. The phrases are much like a preferred phrase within the insurance coverage business: “Deny, delay, defend.”
A 2020 e book by Jay Feinman in regards to the insurance coverage business bears an identical title: Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance coverage Firms Do not Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. The e book describes itself as an “expose of insurance coverage injustice and a plan for customers and lawmakers to battle again”.
Feinman didn’t remark when contacted by The Impartial.
Police have searched the HI New York Metropolis Hostel within the Higher West Aspect the place the shooter was believed to be staying in a multi-person room with two different males, CNN experiences. Investigators consider the suspect checked into the hostel utilizing a faux New Jersey ID, the New York Submit experiences, citing legislation enforcement sources.
“We’re absolutely cooperating with the NYPD and, as that is an lively investigation, can’t remark presently,” Danielle Norris, a spokeswoman for the hostel’s guardian firm Hostelling Worldwide USA, stated in a press release.
The NYPD can also be urging residents to proceed sending in ideas. Officers searched a Lengthy Island Railroad practice on Thursday — and whereas it didn’t flip up any proof, they emphasised the significance of data from the general public.
“The practice stopped. They searched the practice and nothing was discovered,” a spokesperson for the police division stated. “We’re getting Crime Stoppers ideas… It’s serving to. We’re following up on each single tip that’s are available in.”
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Spouse reveals Thompson acquired threats as police seek for motive
Thompson’s spouse, Paulette Thompson, informed NBC Information her husband acquired threats previous to Wednesday’s capturing.
“There had been some threats,” she informed the outlet. “Mainly, I don’t know, a scarcity of [health insurance] protection? I don’t know particulars. I simply know that he stated there have been some those that had been threatening him.”
She added: “I can’t actually give a considerate response proper now. I simply discovered this out and I’m making an attempt to console my kids.”
Police knowledgeable her on Wednesday morning that the capturing was seemingly a deliberate assault.
“The motive for this homicide is at present unknown, however based mostly on the proof now we have to date, it does seem the sufferer was particularly focused,” Kenny informed reporters. “However at this level, we have no idea why.”
UnitedHealth Group was conscious of regarding threats towards its executives forward of Wednesday’s capturing, CNN experiences, citing sources with data of the investigation.
The NYPD Crime Stoppers are providing a $10,000 reward for info.
New York Metropolis mayor Eric Adams stated police are nonetheless discovering extra “items to the puzzle” as of Thursday.
“We really feel that we’re transferring at a gentle tempo, and we’re going to have somebody apprehended,” Adams stated.
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Household and leaders mourn CEO
Thompson’s members of the family are in mourning as they course of the information.
Thompson’s sister Elena Reveiz informed The New York Occasions that her brother was a “good particular person, and I’m so unhappy.”
Thompson’s brother Mark beforehand informed The Impartial he was not but able to touch upon the state of affairs.
The household put out a joint assertion on Thursday honoring Thompson.
“Brian was an extremely loving, beneficiant, gifted man who really lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” Thompson’s household stated in a press release to Minnesota information outlet KARE. “We respect your condolences and request full privateness as our household strikes by way of this tough time,” the assertion continued.
Former vice presidential candidate and present Minnesota governor Tim Walz posted his condolences on social media.
“That is horrifying information and a horrible loss for the enterprise and well being care neighborhood in Minnesota,” Walz wrote. “Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s household and the UnitedHealthcare workforce.”
New York governor Kathy Hochul stated she has been briefed on the state of affairs and in addition supplied her condolences to Thompson’s household.
“Our hearts are with the household and family members of Mr Thompson, and we’re dedicated to making sure the perpetrator is delivered to justice,” Hochul stated.
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Mayor Adams additionally assured residents the capturing didn’t seem like a random act of violence.
“We wish to be clear to New Yorkers that this doesn’t seem like a random act of violence,” Adams stated on Wednesday.
Thompson is a father of two. Earlier than taking the CEO job in 2021, he labored as the corporate’s head of presidency applications. As CEO, Thompson labored out of UnitedHealthcare’s workplaces in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Pretend bomb threats have been made towards two houses, one owned by Thompson and the opposite owned by his spouse, shortly after he was shot on Wednesday.
The 2 houses, that are lower than a mile aside in Maple Grove, Minnesota, have been focused on Wednesday night, The Minnesota Star-Tribune experiences. The menace was despatched by way of e-mail to a number of individuals who then notified police. Thompson and his spouse had been residing in separate houses in Maple Grove for years, The Wall Avenue Journal experiences.
The threats weren’t credible and thought of an occasion of “swatting,” police stated.
“No units or suspicious objects have been positioned throughout the investigation,” a Maple Grove police spokesperson stated in a press release. ”The case is taken into account an lively investigation, whereas the incident seems to be a hoax.”
Thompson saved a low profile with little public title recognition, the Related Press reported.
Thompson was additionally named in a lawsuit filed by a Florida pension fund earlier this 12 months accusing UnitedHealth of hiding an antitrust investigation by the Justice Division from shareholders whereas insiders bought inventory, based on the Journal. Thompson had not answered the claims in court docket earlier than Wednesday’s capturing.
Below his management, UnitedHealthcare offered protection to greater than 49 million individuals, making it the most important insurance coverage firm within the US. The community consists of 1.3 million physicians and care professionals throughout practically 7,000 amenities.
Below Thompson, the corporate made $74 billion in income in the latest quarter, incomes the title of the most important subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. Thompson made $10.2 million yearly and was one of many firm’s highest-paid workers.
Social media was peppered with complaints about medical insurance following the capturing. One commenter responded: “Dude was somebody’s father, son, brother, husband. Chill with the … tweets.”
