NYPD officials say the shooter appears to be familiar with firearms.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said today that surveillance video of Thompson’s ambush murder suggests the perpetrator was familiar with firearms.
Kenney said security video appears to show the gunman shoot Thompson in the back, then unclog the gun before firing again.
“From watching the video, he appears to be skilled with firearms. He was able to quickly resolve the malfunction,” Kenney said.
Minnesota Governor Walz and Senator Klobuchar call CEO murder tragic and horrifying
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz today expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Thompson, who is headquartered in Minnesota.
“I knew Brian. It’s tragic,” Walz said during today’s state budget news conference. He said he hopes those responsible are brought to justice.
“My heart goes out to the family. This is a terrible tragedy,” Walz said.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, also expressed shock.
“This is a horrific and shocking act of violence. My thoughts are with Brian Thompson’s family and loved ones, and everyone who works at United Healthcare of Minnesota,” Klobuchar wrote on X this morning.
UnitedHealthcare has more than 18,000 employees in Minnesota, the company says on its website.
Who is Brian Thompson?
Thompson, 50, was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 and joined UnitedHealthcare Group in 2004, according to his bio page.
He previously served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare and Retirement, Community and State. He was also CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
Thompson is survived by his wife and two sons.
Surveillance camera captured the moment Thompson was shot and killed outside a New York City hotel.
Thompson was on her way to speak at a UnitedHealth Group investor conference when a man approached her from behind and fired multiple shots. Police claimed the attack was “pre-planned” and “targeted”.
What is United Healthcare?
UnitedHealthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, is the largest private health insurance provider in the United States, with more than 50 million customers for its health insurance products. The company serves more than 13 million Medicare-eligible adults and is the nation’s largest provider of Medicare Advantage services. Mr. Thompson had served as the division’s chief executive since 2021.
UnitedHealthcare’s parent company has a market value of $562 billion, more than peer health insurance companies such as Cigna, Humana, CVS Health, Elevance and Centene. In its latest quarterly earnings report, UnitedHealth Group reported nearly $99 billion in revenue. UnitedHealthcare was responsible for most of that revenue.
UnitedHealth Group said in a statement: “We are saddened and shocked by the passing of our dear friend and colleague, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “He was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.”
NYPD releases photo of suspected gunman
New York police have released an image of the man being sought in connection with the Thompson shooting, with few discernible features.
The photo shows a person who appears to be a white male wearing a hooded jacket and carrying a backpack, with the lower half of his face obscured.
Mr. Thompson told his wife that “some people were threatening him.”
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said her husband had received threats before.
“Yes, there were some threats,” Thompson told NBC News. “Basically I don’t know, is there a lack of reporting? I don’t know the details. All I know is that he said there were people threatening him. That’s all.”
Thompson lived in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove, but police there were not notified of any threats against him, Cmdr. Jonathan Weternach said.
New York City Police Department on call to keep tonight’s tree lighting safe
Tonight’s tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center will go ahead as scheduled after Thompson was shot and killed several blocks away this morning.
NYPD officials assured the public that there would be a heavy police presence at the holiday ceremony to ensure everyone’s safety.
NYPD Chief Jeffrey Madley said plainclothes officers, as well as members of the department’s intelligence division, will be in the area “to make sure people can get out and have a good time.”
“And we’re also adding more police officers to the metro to make it easier for people to use public transportation to get around the city and see the tree,” Madley said.
Manhunt continues for gunman who killed CEO
Police said they are searching for the suspect, who fled the scene on foot and then on a rented motorcycle.
He was last seen in Central Park. Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
Police said the man was wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and was carrying a gray backpack. A person familiar with the matter told CNBC that the suspect appears to have used a gun equipped with a silencer.
There’s nothing random about Thompson’s killing outside hotel, NYPD says
Mr. Thompson was on his way to speak at an investor conference this morning when he was killed in a “premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” outside the New York Hilton in midtown Manhattan.
Police said the man was hit at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, adding that the gunman “stayed by for several minutes.”
Police said the gunman arrived at the hotel about five minutes before the shooting and fired a shot into Thompson’s back.
“The motive for this murder is unknown at this time, but based on the evidence we have so far, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted,” said Detective Chief Inspector Joseph Kenney. “But at this point we don’t know why.”
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney told reporters that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did not appear to have a security detail and was walking alone when he was shot. Ta.
