The New York City Police Department has released a new full-body photo of the suspect in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
It is the first time the public has seen a photo of the suspect without a mask since the fatal shooting of Thompson, 50, outside a midtown Manhattan hotel.
It is not clear where the photo was taken or the timing of the photo in relation to the shooting.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence. All signs point to it being a pre-arranged, targeted attack. NYPD’s full investigative efforts are ongoing. , we are asking for the public’s cooperation,” the NYPD said in a statement. Post on social media.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.
new york city police
🚨UPDATE: Below are photos of dignitaries wanted for questioning in connection with a December 4th murder in midtown Manhattan. This does not appear to be a random act of violence. All signs point to it being a pre-prepared, targeted attack.
Full investigation efforts… pic.twitter.com/K3kzC4IbtS
— New York City Police News (@NYPDnews) December 5, 2024
The NYPD also believes the suspect left notes on the shell casings police found at the crime scene, a senior New York law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News.
The search continues for the masked gunman since the shooting that left Thompson fighting for his life outside New York’s Hilton Midtown hotel Wednesday morning ahead of a UnitedHealth Group investor meeting. .
New York City police officials said it appears Thompson was the target of a “brazen” and “premeditated” attack.
Dramatic surveillance video obtained by NBC New York shows Thompson walking along the 54th Street sidewalk toward the hotel entrance when a gunman approaches him from behind and shoots him in the back. It seems so. Police said the gunman’s gun jammed, but he was able to fire several shots, first hitting Thompson head-on before leaving the scene on foot and then on a motorized bicycle.
Law enforcement officials told NBC News that shell casings found at the scene had messages written on them: “Defend,” “Reject,” and “Discard.”
Law enforcement officials say those words are in the title of a book about the health insurance industry that the suspect may have inquired about.
Thompson, 50, had been CEO of United Healthcare since April 2021.
Police said the murder suspect rode an electric bicycle to Central Park after the shooting and was last seen near Center Drive Wednesday morning.
Police conducted a frantic search using drones, helicopters and dogs, but the killer was not located until late into the night.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said investigators have not yet determined a motive, but the shooting was not a random act of violence.
“Many people passed the suspect, but the suspect appeared to be waiting for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.
“Based on the video, he appears to be skilled with firearms, as he was able to quickly resolve malfunctions,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney.
Police released several surveillance images of the man, who was wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that covered most of his face and would not have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. . Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop just before the photo shoot.
A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News that before the shooting, the suspect bought a water bottle and two protein bars at a nearby Starbucks and threw them away.
The NYPD was able to recover the waste as evidence, the official said.
The police department has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the Minnetonka, Minn.-based insurance company’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement. “We are working closely with the New York City Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that Thompson told her “there were people who were threatening him.” He did not provide details, but suggested the threat may be related to insurance coverage issues.
Eric Warner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the officer.
Police initially said the suspect entered Central Park on a bike from the city’s bike-sharing program, CitiBike. However, a spokesperson for Lyft, which runs the program, said Wednesday afternoon that law enforcement officials had notified the company that the bikes did not belong to Citi Bike.
Healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group held its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company’s direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early following Thompson’s death.
Mr. Thompson, a father of two sons, joined the company in 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States, managing employer health insurance coverage and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.
