Who is Brian Thompson? Everything we know about UnitedHealthcare CEO murdered in Manhattan

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in what police called a “brazen targeted attack” in Manhattan early Wednesday.

A massive search is underway for the unidentified archerwho fled the scene on a bicycle. Police searched an Upper West Side hostel where they believe the suspect was staying, CNN reported Thursday morning.

Here’s everything we know so far about the fatal attack on 50-year-old insurance executive:

Thompson shot in ‘premeditated attack’

The unidentified gunman was hiding behind a car outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for about five minutes when Thompson got out, police said. The suspect was spotted at a nearby Starbucks at West 56th Street and 6th Avenue shortly before the shooting.

The gunman, who was wearing a mask, approached Thompson from behind and shot him in the right leg and back at 6:46 a.m. A video of the incident shows the shooter walking calmly behind Thompson before shooting him multiple times and then calmly crossing the street. The video also shows 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 fire. The gun appears to malfunction as he clears the jam and begins firing again,” NYPD 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. The suspect is believed to have used a handgun with a silencer. A food cart vendor near the scene of the shooting said NBC News that he had not heard the shots.

The killer fled the scene through an alley on an e-bike. Police told reporters that the e-bikes are equipped with GPS devices. He fled across Sixth Avenue into Central Park, where he was last seen.

The shooting was a “premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack,” police said late Wednesday morning. Thompson appeared unaware he was in danger and had no security detail nearby, Kenny told reporters.

UnitedHealth Group, which owns the insurance company, held its annual investor conference on 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 everyone who was close to him.”

The NYPD released photos of the masked suspect on Thursday morning.

The police do not believe that the killer is a professional.

Expert analysts who reviewed the footage said The Wall Street Journal that the suspect handled the gun skillfully. Kenny also acknowledged that the shooter appeared to have experience with weapons.

“He appears to be proficient with firearms,” ​​the chief of detectives said.

Authorities found three live 9mm bullets and three spent 9mm shell casings, as well as a cell phone, at the scene of the shooting. They also found a candy wrapper and a bottle of water believed to belong to the suspect, he said ABC News.

Investigators were able to retrieve one smudged fingerprint from the bottle, CNN reports.

Shell casings found by police at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “reject” written on them, ABC News reports. The words are similar to a popular phrase in the insurance industry: “Deny, delay, defend.”

Jay Feinman’s 2020 book on the insurance industry has a similar title: Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. The book describes itself as “an expose of injustice in insurance and a blueprint for consumers and lawmakers to fight back.”

Feinman did not comment when contacted The Independent.

Police searched the HI New York City Hostel on the Upper West Side where the killer is believed to have stayed in a shared room with two other men, CNN reports. Investigators believe the suspect checked into the hostel using a fake New Jersey ID, ie New York Post reports, citing law enforcement sources.

“We are cooperating fully with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment at this time,” said Danielle Norris, a spokeswoman for the hostel’s parent company, Hostelling International USA.

The New York City Police Department is also urging residents to continue sending in reports. Officers searched a Long Island Railroad train Thursday — and while they found no evidence, they stressed the importance of information from the public.

“The train stopped. They searched the train and nothing was found,” said a spokesperson for the police department. “We get tips from Crime Stoppers… It helps. We follow every tip that comes in.”

Wife reveals Thompson has received threats as police search for motive

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that her husband had received threats before Wednesday’s shooting.

“There were some threats,” she told the publication. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack [health insurance] coverage? I don’t know the details. I only know that he said that some people threatened him.”

She added: “I can’t give a thoughtful answer at the moment. I just found this out and I’m trying to comfort my children.”

Police informed her Wednesday morning that the shooting was likely a planned attack.

“The motive for this killing is currently unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted,” Kenny told reporters. “But at this point we don’t know why.”

UnitedHealth Group was aware of the threat to its executives ahead of Wednesday’s shooting, CNN reports, citing sources familiar with the investigation.

The New York Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward for information.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said police were still finding more “pieces of the puzzle” as of Thursday.

“We feel like we’re moving at a steady pace and somebody’s going to make an arrest,” Adams said.

Family, leaders mourn the CEO

Thompson’s family members are in mourning as they process the news.

said Thompson’s sister, Elena Reveiz The New York Times that her brother was “a good person and I’m so sad”.

Thompson’s brother Mark previously said The Independent he was not yet ready to comment on the situation.

The family released a joint statement Thursday honoring Thompson.

“Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” Thompson’s family said in a statement to Minnesota’s KARE news outlet. “We appreciate your condolences and ask for complete privacy as our family goes through this difficult time,” the statement said.

Former vice presidential candidate and current governor of Minnesota Tim Waltz expressed his condolences on social networks.

“This is terrible news and a terrible loss for the Minnesota business and healthcare community,” Walz wrote. “Minnesota sends our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

Governor of New York Kathy Hochul she said she was aware of the situation and also offered her condolences to Thompson’s family.

“Our hearts go out to Mr. Thompson’s family and loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to justice,” Hochul said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams he also assured residents that the shooting did not appear to be a random act of violence.

“We want to be clear to New Yorkers that this does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Adams said Wednesday.

Thompson is the father of two children. Before taking over as CEO in 2021, he served as the company’s head of government programs. As CEO, Thompson worked out of UnitedHealthcare’s offices in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

There were fake bomb threats made against two homes, one owned by Thompson and the other owned by his wife, shortly after he was killed Wednesday.

Two homes less than a mile apart in Maple Grove, Minnesota, were targeted Wednesday night. The is the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports. The threat was sent via e-mail to several people who then informed the police. For years, Thompson and his wife lived in separate homes in Maple Grove, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The threats were not credible and were considered an example of “hitting,” police said.

“No devices or suspicious items were found during the investigation,” a Maple Grove police spokesman said in a statement. “The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax.”

Thompson has kept a low profile with little public name recognition, the Associated Press reports.

Thompson was also named in a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a Florida pension fund accusing UnitedHealth of hiding a Justice Department antitrust investigation from shareholders while insiders sold stock, according to Journal. Thompson did not respond to the claims in court before Wednesday’s shooting.

Under his leadership, UnitedHealthcare provided coverage to more than 49 million people, making it the largest insurance company in the US. The network includes 1.3 million physicians and care professionals in nearly 7,000 facilities.

Under Thompson, the company generated $74 billion in revenue in its most recent quarter, making it UnitedHealth Group’s largest subsidiary. Thompson earned $10.2 million a year and was one of the company’s highest paid employees.

Social media was flooded with complaints about health insurance after the shooting. One commenter responded: “He was one’s father, son, brother, husband. Relax with … tweets.”