A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a premeditated attack outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York City on Wednesday. The suspect, described as a light-skinned male wearing a black face mask and gray backpack, was seen lying in wait for Thompson as he approached the building. Surveillance video shows the assailant shooting Thompson in the back before walking towards him and continuing to fire.
Thompson was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes after the incident, and police are still searching for the suspect, who fled into Central Park. Authorities have found a phone and bottle of water that may have been dropped by the suspect during his escape.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but police describe it as a “premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack” on West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Investigators believe the suspect is an experienced marksman who used a silencer, and they are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Thompson’s widow said that her husband received threats against him before the shooting, but she did not know details of the threats. UnitedHealth Group leadership was aware of the concerns, but Thompson’s security detail was not with him during the incident.
The company is shocked by the loss of its CEO, describing him as “a highly respected colleague and friend.” A lawsuit filed against UnitedHealthcare in May alleges that Thompson schemed to inflate the company’s stock.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/05/us/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed-what-we-know-hnk/index.html