Brian Thompson Shooting Latest: Manhunt For UnitedHealthcare CEO Gunman Continues As Police Reveal New Clues
Officials reveal Brian Thompson’s shooting appears to be a ‘brazen targeted attack’
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The family of Brian Thompson, the slain CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is “shattered” by his “senseless killing” outside a New York City hotel on Wednesday.
Thompson, 50, a father of two, was shot at point-blank range near the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday morning just before a scheduled investor meeting.
The manhunt for the suspect has entered its third day, with police investigating a smudged fingerprint found on a water bottle left at the scene that could potentially contain vital DNA.
On Thursday, police released two photos of a “person of interest” who may have stayed at a hostel and visited Starbucks shortly before the shooting. The suspect was last seen cycling out of Central Park around 7am.
Police are examining bullet casings found at the scene, which were inscribed with the cryptic words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” — terms possibly linked to health insurers’ tactics to avoid paying claims.
The suspect is believed to have arrived in New York City 10 days prior to the shooting on a Greyhound bus which began in Atlanta. He is said to have checked into a hostel on Amsterdam Avenue on November 24, where he stayed until the shooting.
Gunman checked in and out of NYC hostel ‘multiple times’ The assailant who shot the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Briant Thompson, to death on Wednesday checked in and out of a Manhattan hosel mutilple times, police say.
After allegedly arriving in New York City by bus on November 24, the gunman checked into a hostel, a law enforcement source told CNN. He then was said to have checked out of the hostel on November 29.
He proceeded to check back into a hostel on November 30, according to the source. It is unclear if it was the same lodgings.
James Liddell6 December 2024 09:54
Suspect traveled to New York on a Greyhound bus, sources say The gunman who shot dead Brian Thomspon at point blank range on Wednesday is said to have traveled to New York City by a Greyhound bus from Atlanta, a near 870 mile journey, sources say.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect getting off the bus in New York around 9 p.m. ET on November 24 – approximately 10 days before the killing, according to CNN.
That day, he was seen walking through the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, a law enforcement source told the outlet.
Greyhound is “fully cooperating with authorities on this active investigation,” a spokesperson said.
James Liddell6 December 2024 09:30
Mapped: Retracing gunman’s steps as he flees to Central Park after shooting James Liddell6 December 2024 09:08
New footage shows gunman leaving subway before Thompson shooting The suspected killer of Brian Thomson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was captured in newly-released footage walking out of a midtown subway station, 30 minutes before the attack.
The footage, examined the Washington Post, allegedly shows the suspect leaving the 57th Street F train stop and walking along 6th Avenue at 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Thompson was shot dead at approximately 6:46 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown.
Watch the footage below:
New surveillance video shows Brian Thompson’s suspected shooter leaving midtown subway stationJames Liddell6 December 2024 08:46
Suspect pulled mask down in ‘flirtatious moment’ – and it may lead to his undoing An apparent “flirtatious moment” between the Brian Thompson shooting suspect and a female hostel employee led to the assailant revealing his face in security footage, according to a senior former NYPD officer.
On Thursday morning, police released photographs showing the face of the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO a day prior at a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.
One of the photos, taken hostel on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan, showed the suspect flashing a smile to a female worker.
The former Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller called the exchange a “flirtatious moment” – and it may lead to the gunman’s undoing, as police hone in on his identity.
“They were having a flirtatious moment and he pulls it down and he gives a big smile and that one informal moment between two human beings remains at this moment the most significant clue to date in this whole case,” Miller told CBS.
The shooting suspect was captured in two stills from security footage at the Manhattan hostel where he was staying (NYPD/X )James Liddell6 December 2024 08:26
Three cryptic words were carved into bullets used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian ThompsonPolice sources confirmed the chilling message to ABC News and the New York Post, adding that three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged nine-millimeter shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Report:
Namita Singh6 December 2024 07:02
What is the UnitedHealthcare business that was led by slain CEO Brian Thompson?UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the United States, provides medical benefits to over 50 million Americans. Its plans cover routine healthcare needs and offer financial protection for those who fall ill or are injured.
In 2023, the company generated $281.4bn in revenue—nearly double that of its closest competitor—underscoring its leading position in an industry where Americans “routinely pay more for healthcare than people in any other country.”
New York Police investigators arrive at the HI New York City Hostel, Thursday, 5 December 2024 (AP)UnitedHealthcare is a key division of UnitedHealth Group, a $560bn global healthcare conglomerate. It operates alongside Optum, which manages pharmacy benefits, healthcare data analytics, and clinical practices.
Under Brian Thompson’s leadership, beginning in 2021, UnitedHealthcare expanded its domestic coverage significantly, increasing from 44 million to 49.3 million insured individuals. The unit’s profitability also soared, with earnings reaching $16.4bn in 2023—a 30 per cent increase from 2020. Its influence extends to over 150 countries worldwide.
Namita Singh6 December 2024 06:07
UHC CEO shooter may have used hard-to-find pistol in shootingPolice reportedly believe that the gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was using a difficult-to-obtain gun in the attack.
Investigators told ABC News they believe that the shooter used a B&T Station Six, a modern version of the covert WWII British Welrod pistol. The pistol has what is essentially a suppressor built into its barrel, and each successive shot with the pistol requires manual chambering. Surveillance footage of the attack showed the gunman using a pistol with a long barrel and chambering rounds manually after each shot. Police told ABC News that the gun is not easy to obtain, and recent purchase records may help investigators in their search for the suspect.
Graig Graziosi6 December 2024 03:07
CEO shooter was in New York for approximately 10 days before attack, source saysThe individual who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was reportedly in New York City for 10 days before the shooting, according to police sources speaking to the New York Times. Another anonymous law enforcement source told CNN that the shooter flew from Atlanta to New York to carry out the attack.
Graig Graziosi6 December 2024 02:13
The man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson allegedly traveled to New York from AtlantaThe gunman who shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson allegedly traveled from Atlanta to New York to carry out his attack.
The information was provided to CNN from an unnamed law enforcement source. This story is still developing and information may evolve as more details are uncovered.
Graig Graziosi6 December 2024 00:44