Police begin investigation into death of UnitedHealthcare CEO

Police are searching for a gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what police described as a bold and deliberate attack in the heart of New York City.

The masked shooter was “lurking” outside the Hilton Midtown shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday, according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, as Thompson headed to the hotel to attend the annual conference. of investors in your company.

As Thompson approached the building, a dark hooded figure with a gray backpack appeared a few feet behind the executive and shot him in the back, surveillance video obtained by the agency shows. CNN .

The businessman staggered forward before turning to face his attacker and falling to the ground. The shooter walked toward him and continued shooting, the video shows.

Thompson was pronounced dead less than half an hour after the incident, and the search for the shooter, who fled to Central Park, continues this Thursday (5). Police are combing through the video and examining clues the suspect may have left behind as he fled the scene.

The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found on shell casings discovered at the scene of the shooting, ABC News reported, citing law enforcement sources. THE CNN reached out to the New York Police Department, which declined to comment. Murder, threats against company executives and ongoing investigation

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, although police described it as a “premeditated, pre-planned and targeted attack” on West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Investigators told CNN that, after the shooting, the attacker crossed the street from the Hilton, fled down an alley and took an electric bicycle, before heading towards Central Park, where he was last seen at 6:48 am. Authorities are searching the area but have not found the shooter’s bicycle or gun.

However, they found a phone and a bottle of water that may have been dropped by the suspect as he fled.

Video at a nearby Starbucks shows the attacker buying a bottle of water and two energy bars about 30 minutes before the shooting, a senior police official reported.

The phone could provide fingerprints, DNA and — if police technicians can unlock the device — other clues about the suspect’s identity, investigators said.

Even if it is a “burner phone,” it could still provide clues about communications and searches before the attack. The water bottle may also have DNA evidence, authorities said.

Authorities are also investigating whether the bike was pre-positioned because they think the suspect may have taken the subway from the Upper West Side to Midtown, according to law enforcement sources. Investigators also have video of the suspect on the Upper West Side carrying what appears to be an electric bicycle battery.

Police believe the shooter is a “light-skinned male” who was last seen wearing “a light brown or cream colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a gray backpack.”

They are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

The shooter appears to be experienced, experts say

Although a weapon has not yet been identified, detectives believe the suspect operated slowly and deliberately in a manner that suggests he was an experienced shooter, police officials told reporters. CNN on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

Firearms experts who studied the video say that although it appeared the gun malfunctioned with each shot, the assailant reacted and cleared the jam on the gun with confidence — as if the suspect were someone with firearms training from the police or of the army.

“It appears that he is efficient in the use of firearms because he can resolve malfunctions very quickly,” explained NYPD Chief of Detectives, Joe Kenny, at a press conference on Wednesday (4).

The gun also appeared to be equipped with a silencer, which can cause them to malfunction and jam unless they are installed with specific modifications, according to a law enforcement official and firearms experts.

The shooting was a “brazen and targeted attack,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch, describing the suspect as having waited for several minutes, stepping onto the sidewalk behind a car and aiming at Thompson despite being in plain sight of others and passing cars.

“We will not rest until we identify and arrest the shooter in this case,” Tisch exclaimed.

CEO received threats

While police have not announced a motive for the attack on Thompson, a source close to the investigation told CNN that UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group — the largest insurer in the United States — was aware of troubling threats against top executives. .

The businessman’s name was not specifically mentioned, but the threats talked about persecuting the company’s high-ranking businesspeople, the source said. In an interview with NBC, Thompson’s widow, Paulette, shared that “there have been some threats” against her husband.

“All I know is that he said there were some people who were threatening him.”

Paulette Thompson declined to comment to CNN about the threats he described to NBC.

UnitedHealth Group’s leadership is supported by an internal security team, including at the New York conference, said another source familiar with the company’s security.

The businessman’s security team was not with him when the attack took place.

Company ‘shocked’ by the loss

Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was named chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and had been with the company since 2004.

Before being named chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, Thompson served as CEO of the company’s government programs business, which includes its Medicare and retirement businesses.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare,” said a public statement from the company.

According to a statement, “Brian was a colleague and friend who was highly respected by everyone who worked with him. We are working closely with the NYPD and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.”

Thompson was sued in May for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading.

The Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund has filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley and Thompson, alleging that executives plotted to inflate the company’s stock by failing to disclose a U.S. Department of Justice investigation about the company.

The Southern District of New York declined to comment.

UnitedHealthcare did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

This content was originally published in Police begin investigation into death of UnitedHealthcare CEO on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil