The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in Manhattan early Wednesday in what authorities have described as a “premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack.” Brian Thompson, 50, was shot in the back and the leg before being taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.During a press conference several hours after the shooting, New York Police Department officials said the shooting was not “a random act of violence,” but that the identity of a suspect — who remains at large — and the motive for the shooting are still unknown.The NYPD is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information regarding the shooter. Some united health care workers are been watched most especially the unhappy once.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the suspect, who was caught on nearby security cameras, as a light-skinned male wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and “a very distinctive gray backpack.”
According to the NYPD, footage obtained from the scene of the attack shows that the suspect approached the outside of the New York Hilton Hotel minutes before Thompson arrived, presumably to prepare for the UnitedHealthcare investor conference which was scheduled to begin in the hotel at 8 a.m. When Thompson arrived, Kenny said security footage showed the suspect stepped onto the pavement and began shooting.
The NYPD responded to a 911 call about the shooting around 6:48 a.m., after the suspect had already left the scene. According to the investigation, the suspect headed northbound several blocks on foot before boarding a bicycle and riding into Central Park.
“The last we see with him on that bike is in Central Park,” Kenny told reporters.
The NYPD added that there was allegedly one witness “standing next to the victim when he was shot” and investigators are looking to identify and speak with that individual for more information.It has not been confirmed whether the suspect was a professional shooter, but after reviewing security camera footage, the NYPD investigators have noted that “it does seem that [the suspect is] proficient in using firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly.”
