Police in New York City are closing in on the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson early Wednesday.
The incident happened at 6:40 a.m. outside the Hilton hotel on Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. The masked suspect shot Thompson in the leg and back.
Three shell casings were found at the scene. The suspect ran into an alleyway where he discarded the cell phone. He then boarded an e-bike and was last seen riding into Central Park. Police are “going through” the cellphone for evidence.
Police also recovered a water bottle and candy wrapper left behind at the scene of the shooting which they believe are linked to the gunman. Fingerprint and DNA analysis were conducted on the items, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
50-year-old Thompson, who lived in Minnesota with his wife and 2 children, was in town to attend the UnitedHealthcare investors conference at the Hilton. He was killed while he walked to the Hilton hotel from the Marriott hotel where he was staying. The investors conference was canceled.
Police executed a search warrant at a location in New York City where they believe the suspect may have been staying, sources told ABC News.
Police analyzed surveillance footage around New York City and captured footage of the suspect at 5 a.m. outside Frederick Douglass Houses, a public housing project on the Upper West Side. The footage showed the suspect carrying what appeared to be an e-bike battery.
The NYPD released more surveillance video of the suspect talking on his cellphone near the scene of the crime 10 minutes before the shooting.
BREAKING OVERNIGHT
NYPD releases footage of the assassin who shot and killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson walking towards the scene while talking on a cellphone 10 minutes before the murder.
They also revealed the words “Deny”, “Defend”, and “Depose” were written on the… pic.twitter.com/YlbeBjSOGe
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) December 5, 2024
Detectives believe the gunman is not a professional killer, sources said.
Police also revealed the words “Deny”, “Defend”, and “Depose” were written on the shell casings found at the scene.
The “brazen, targeted attack” was “premeditated,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Wednesday. NYC Mayor Eric Adams said the crime was not a random attack.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said in a statement that she was “shattered” by the “senseless killing.”
Paulette told a reporter that Thompson received “some threats.” She believed the shooting was related to healthcare coverage.
Thousands of UnitedHealthcare consumers left angry messages on social media after the news broke. Some praised the murder suspect and said Thompson killed millions of people by denying their insurance claims.
