UnitedHealthcare CEO shot: Brian Thompson killed in Midtown, NYC as NYPD shut in on ID of shooter
MIDTOWN (WABC) — Police in New York Metropolis seem like closing in on an id of the suspect needed within the deadly taking pictures of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sources advised ABC Information.
They’ve sought a search warrant Thursday for a location within the metropolis the place they consider he could have been staying.
The NYPD launched new, clear photos of the suspect’s face on Thursday as they proceed to seek for the shooter.
The NYPD launched new photographs of the suspect with no masks Thursday, apparently from when he stayed on the HI New York Metropolis Hostel on the Higher West Facet. It seems the suspect shared a room with two different males, in keeping with police sources.
Detectives are at present canvassing different hostels on the Higher West Facet, exhibiting his image and asking if employees have seen the suspect.
A lady crosses Amsterdam Avenue exterior the HI New York Metropolis hostel, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in New York.
AP Photograph/Yuki Iwamura
“Deny,” “defend” and “depose” have been written on the dwell rounds and shell casings found on the scene of Wednesday morning’s taking pictures – which detectives interpret as a attainable message from the suspect.
It furthers their working motive that the suspect held grudge in opposition to the insurance coverage firm. They’re checking each dispute or contested denial of service introduced in opposition to the corporate, in addition to operating down each menace made in opposition to the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
Thompson, 50, from Minnesota, was shot round 6:45 a.m. exterior the New York Hilton on Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets in what police say was a “brazen focused assault.”
Three spent shell casings have been discovered on the scene together with three dwell rounds from a 9mm, and NYPD detectives are working to find out whether or not the phrases on the casings have been meant as a message from the shooter and a touch at his motive.
Thompson was seen on video leaving his lodge throughout the road to enter the Hilton a number of minutes prior, about 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, police say. He was rushed to Mount Sinai West the place he later died.
The CEO was in New York Metropolis for an investor convention on the Hilton, which is within the coronary heart of Midtown, and simply blocks away from Rockefeller Middle.
Thompson’s schedule was broadly recognized and police consider the taking pictures was focused and say it doesn’t seem like random.
The shooter seems to have recognized which door Thompson was going to enter and was noticed on video at the least 5 minutes previous to the taking pictures loitering across the lodge. Thompson was approached from behind and shot a number of occasions at level clean vary on the doorway on West 54th Avenue, together with a number of rounds within the again and as soon as in the best calf.
Eyewitness Information obtained these photographs of the suspect that matches the police description.
At one level the gun appeared to jam. When the suspect cleared the jam, he resumed taking pictures.
“From watching the video, it does seem he’s proficient in the usage of firearms, as he was in a position to clear the malfunction fairly shortly,” stated NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny.
It is not clear if any phrases have been exchanged previous to the taking pictures.
The gunman is described as 6’1″ with a tall, skinny construct, and was sporting a black jacket, black hat, black ski masks, and black backpack. He ran by way of the midblock Ziegfeld Alleyway and finally jumped on a motorcycle and rode away into Central Park.
A brand new video launched on Thursday exhibits the alleged suspect biking out of Central Park, on West eighty fifth Avenue, after the taking pictures.
New video exhibits the suspect biking out of Central Park alongside West eighty fifth road simply earlier than 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Investigators additionally recovered surveillance photos from a Starbucks one block north, the place the suspect visited a couple of minutes earlier than the taking pictures, and a cellphone was discovered alongside the escape route.
Whereas a suspect has not but been recognized, police consider they are going to get well good forensic proof from a water bottle and two energy bar wrappers that have been discarded on the similar Starbucks the place police additionally obtained the surveillance video of the suspect. They are saying the unspent bullet rounds and the cellphone, which they now have a search warrant to look at, will assist in their investigation as properly.
A canvas of surveillance cameras on the perimeter of Central Park additionally revealed an individual resembling the suspect entered the park on the Higher West Facet, close to the Fredrick Douglass homes, hours earlier than the taking pictures.
A $10,000 reward is being provided for data.
UnitedHealthcare’s dad or mum firm is UnitedHealth Group, the biggest well being insurer on the earth.
Thompson was promoted to the function of UnitedHealthcare CEO in 2021. Thompson had arrived in New York on Monday. He was strolling into the Hilton alone with no safety element, police stated.
ABC Information Senior Investigative Reporter Aaron Katersky has the newest on the investigation.
ABC Information contributed to this report.
READ MORE: What we all know in regards to the gunman within the homicide of Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare CEO
ABC Information contributor Robert Boyce has particulars into the investigation and manhunt.
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