Newly-released photos shared by the New York Police Department show the face of the gunman authorities say killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson early Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The suspect is still at large.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the NYPD shared three photos of the partially-masked suspect and urged anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect to contact police at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Police did not share where the photos were taken but a law enforcement source told the New York Times that the gunman had visited a Starbucks located about two blocks away from the scene of the shooting.
Police have said the suspect fled in the direction of Central Park on an electric Citi Bike after firing at least three shots at 50-year-old Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan just before 6:45 a.m. Wednesday. The shooting occurred as Thompson was entering the hotel for an investors’ conference, according to NYPD officials, who added that the healthcare executive was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
NYPD
NYPD
At a Wednesday press conference, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch suggested the gunman deliberately targeted the CEO in a “brazen, targeted attack.” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny added the gunman appears to be “proficient” in the use of firearms.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Tisch noted.
In an interview with NBC News, Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said he’d been receiving threats prior to the fatal shooting.
-UnitedHealth Group
“Yes, there had been some threats basically I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details,” she said. “I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
According to Local Channel2 Now, Thompson had two children with Paulette, and the family lives in Maple Grove, Minn.
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The suspect is described as a male with light skin, wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a “very distinctive grey backpack,” Kenny said. Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
NYPD News/X
According to a bio on UnitedHealthcare’s company’s website, Thompson was named CEO of the company in April 2021. Prior to that, he was CEO of the company’s government programs, including its medicare program. He joined the company in 2004, according to his bio.
The parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement shared Wednesday it was “deeply saddened and shocked” after learning of Thompson’s killing.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said, adding it is “working closely” with the New York Police Department on the investigation.
