UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in what police described as a “brazen targeted attack” in Manhattan early Wednesday.
A massive manhunt is underway for the unidentified shooter, who fled the scene on a bike. Police are searching for a motive, and had yet to make an arrest as of Wednesday afternoon.
Here’s everything we know so far about the fatal attack on the 50-year-old insurance CEO:
The unidentified shooter had been hiding behind a car outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan for about five minutes when Thompson exited, police said. The suspect was spotted at a nearby Starbucks on West 56th Street and 6th Avenue minutes before the shooting.
The shooter, who was wearing a mask, approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the right calf and back at 6:46 a.m. Video of the incident shows the shooter calmly walking up behind Thompson before shooting him multiple times, then calmly crossing the street. The footage also indicates there was a bystander who witnessed the shooting and ran away as the suspect fired at Thompson.
Thompson was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
“The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot. It appears that the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fire again,” New York Police Department’s Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters.
Police described the shooter as a white man wearing a black hoodie and black pants with a gray backpack. It’s believed the suspect used a gun with a silencer. A food cart vendor near the scene of the shooting told NBC News that he did not hear any gunshots.
The shooter fled the scene through an alleyway on an e-bike. Police told reporters e-bikes are equipped with GPS devices. He fled via Sixth Avenue to Central Park, where he was last seen.
The shooting was a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack,” police said late Wednesday morning. Thompson appeared unaware he was in danger and had no security detail near him, Kenny told reporters.
Authorities found three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings, as well as a cell phone, at the scene of the shooting.
UnitedHealth Group, which owns the insurance company, was holding its annual Investor Conference Wednesday. They have since canceled the event. Thompson was scheduled to speak there at 8 a.m.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News her husband received threats prior to Wednesday’s shooting.
