New York Police have released new images of a suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was killed on Wednesday morning, December 4th. The shooter is currently on the run.
In a post shared on social media platform X, the NYPD released three photos of the partially-masked individual and requested that anyone with information about the incident contact them at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Although the location of the photos has not been disclosed, a law enforcement source informed the New York Times that the suspect had been spotted at a Starbucks just two blocks away from where the shooting took place.
Authorities say the gunman fired at least three shots at Thompson, age 50, as he arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for an investors’ conference just before 6:45 a.m. The shooting led to Thompson’s death shortly after at a nearby hospital.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as a “brazen, targeted strike,” indicating that the suspect specifically targeted Thompson. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that the gunman shows a high level of skill with firearms.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Tisch confirmed in a news briefing.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette, shared in an interview that her husband had been receiving threats leading up to the tragic event. She indicated that the nature of the threats was unclear but mentioned that it might have been related to some coverage issues he was dealing with.
The couple had two children together and resided in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Authorities described the suspect as a man with light skin, wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, and distinctive grey backpack. The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
Brian Thompson had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004, serving as CEO since April 2021. His passing has caused significant sorrow within the company, which released a statement expressing its shock and condolences, highlighting his respected position among colleagues. The company is cooperating with the NYPD during the ongoing investigation.