Wednesday morning, Brian Thompson, group president of the American insurer UnitedHealthcare, was assassinated in the street in New York. Here are the essential elements to remember about this matter.
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In Manhattan, New York, Brian Thompson, the group president of the American insurer UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead in the street. The 50-year-old man died in hospital, the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced.
Brian Thompson was shot dead around 6:46 a.m. local time on Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel near Times Square in Manhattan. The 50-year-old executive died of his injuries in hospital, the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed. Brian Thompson, who resided in Minnesota, was not accompanied by a bodyguard. According to authorities, the assailant waited several minutes in front of the hotel before shooting, hitting the victim in the back and leg.
UnitedHealtcare
“Based on the evidence we have to date, it appears that the victim was attacked in a targeted manner,” said Joe Kenny, chief of the New York Police Department’s investigative unit.
-UnitedHealthcare
- UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, employs 440,000 people and generates annual revenue of $371 billion. Brian Thompson, who had been with the company for 20 years, had been its president since 2021. He was in New York for an investor meeting.
The assailant used a weapon equipped with a silencer, according to local media. The New York Post reports that messages were engraved on the bullets found at the scene, bearing words like “deny”, “depose” and “defend”. Police recovered three 9mm cartridges and three cartridge cases, each with an inscribed word.
The New York Police Department posted photos of the perpetrator on Twitter. The suspect was described as a white man. He was reportedly wearing a black jacket, a black mask and black and white sneakers. He was also carrying a gray backpack.
After the attack, the man fled on foot before escaping on an electric bike towards Central Park. Police are closely monitoring the vehicle’s GPS information. According to sources, the suspect left a trail by throwing a coffee cup in a trash can, which was recovered as evidence.
A reward of 10,000 dollars
The suspect is still wanted, with a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. NYPD helicopters flew over the city to intensify the search. Paulette Thompson, the victim’s wife, revealed to “NBC News” that her husband had received threats before: “I don’t know the exact details, but he had mentioned threats from certain people.”
