A hooded gunman who had been lying in wait for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed the executive outside a Manhattan hotel Wednesday in what police said appeared to be a "brazen, targeted attack.".
Video footage shows that the shooter waited there about five minutes outside the Midtown Hilton, during which many others walked by, before running up from behind his victim and firing several rounds of ammunition, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a news conference. Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Midtown Hilton, according to the police commissioner.
Tisch said the executive was walking to the annual investor conference for the Minnetonka-based parent company UnitedHealth Group when he was struck at least once in the back and at least once in the leg.
"'Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in what appears — at this early stage of our investigation — to be a brazen, targeted attack,' Tisch said. 'This does not appear to be a random act of violence.'
READ MORE: Search ongoing after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian
The commissioner added: 'I want to be clear, at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.
To this hour, at least, the gunman is on the run. Police said a $10,000 reward has been put on information regarding the attack. The shooting took place about 6:45 a.m. EST today.
During the news conference, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said that Thompson, who lives in Maple Grove, arrived in New York Monday and was walking to the investor conference alone today without any kind of security detail.
Video shows the gunman coming out from behind a car, ignoring other pedestrians, then shooting Thompson from behind, Kenny said. The shooter approached Thompson and kept shooting until the gun jammed.
After clearing the jam, the shooter resumed firing again, Kenny said, before running off on foot.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson killed in ‘brazen, targeted attack’ in NYC; manhunt continues
Speaking to the reporters, Kenny said, the police could not determine if he was a professional, neither were they able to come out and tell whether he used any silencer, so to speak. He mentioned as one watches the video; it seems that he seems quite proficient in the handling of the firearms since it looks like he cleared some of the malfunctions so very quickly.
He had left the scene of the crime on his e-bike, and once again he is seen riding on an e-bike when spotted in Central Park.
"The motive for this murder currently is unknown," Kenny said. "Based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted. But at this point, we do not know why."
At a police news conference, reporters asked Kenny if there was any indication that a fight over coverage was connected with the killing.
"We are looking at everything," said the chief of detectives. "We are looking at [Thompson's] social media. We are interviewing employees. We are interviewing family members.".
Kenny added: "We are contacting law enforcement in Minnesota and interviewing his colleagues and his family members to determine whether he has faced any specific threats in the past."
In April 2021, he was elected chief executive of the company's insurance division. In the years leading up to that, he managed UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage business, which has largely been at the forefront of much of the industry-level attention surrounding risk adjustment payments and prior authorization denials.
Company leaders were gathered in New York at the annual investors’ conference for parent company UnitedHealth Group when CEO Andrew Witty abruptly halted the meeting just after 8 a.m. Central time.
“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” Witty said. “As a result, I’m afraid, we’re going to have to bring to a close the event.”
READ MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in New York City
.png)
0 Comments