Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot dead on December 4, 2024, outside a New York City’s Hilton Midtown hotel. As per reports, the gunman arrived at the location minutes before the CEO came. The killer fired the gun twice from the back which struck Thompson in the back and right calf.
The gunman then fled from the scene on a bike and headed to Central Park. Police have been going through the security footage available from different locations. They initially suspected that the alleged killer used an electric Citi Bike to escape but according to CBC News, the bike’s company Lyft clarified that it was not the case, though they agreed to help in the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are also going through every aspect of the CEO’s life like social media while they interrogated his friends and family to have an idea of what could have led to the incident. The attack on Thompson was not random as police claimed it was targeted while they were searching for a motive.
The killer used a silencer but the gun malfunctioned after the first shot which led him to fix it before firing again. Despite that, Brian Thompson was not robbed of any belongings. The police found three live rounds and discharged shell casings from the crime scene.
As seen in the security footage, a second person stood nearby but not within the line of fire. However, when after he realized that a person was shot, he hurried away from the place.
Since 2004, Brian Thompson has been associated with UnitedHealthcare and was appointed CEO in 2021. The incident happened before an investors' conference scheduled that day at the same hotel.
Reportedly, the gunman likely knew about the conference and where Brian Thompson was staying
Thompson was not staying at the Hilton hotel but at Marriott which was near from the hotel. Although the conference was about to start at 8 AM, he headed to the venue probably because of organization requirements.
An official from NYPD suggested that the gunman was aware of where Brian Thompson was staying and this is why he arrived at the location minutes before the CEO did.
Surveillance footage also revealed that the alleged killer went to a nearby Starbucks before he arrived at the location. The police collected forensic evidence from Starbucks which was sent for testing for DNA and fingerprint matches.
According to the police, the alleged suspect was a white male who wore a tan-colored jacket and wore a black face mask. He carried a grey backpack and had white sneakers. Authorities from UnitedHealthcare also went through their files and records to find a possible suspect.
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Brian Thompson's family released a statement expressing their heartbreak over his tragic loss. They described him as a loving, generous, and talented individual who lived life fully and impacted many.
They emphasized his role as a devoted father to their two sons and shared that he will be deeply missed. The family thanked everyone for their kind wishes and requested privacy as they navigated this challenging time.
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