New York City Police Search for Suspect in Murder of UnitedHealth Executive

(Reuters) – New York City police are still searching for the man who killed UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel last week, despite an intense manhunt that began the same week. Here is what we know about the incident, Thompson, and the suspect:

What Happened? How Did the Suspect Escape?

At about 6:45 a.m. ET (1145 GMT) on Wednesday, Thompson was walking alone toward a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan when a gunman approached from behind and shot him in the back.

Thompson staggered and fell to the ground. Surveillance video captured the gunman, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and a backpack, approaching Thompson and firing a second shot. After a malfunction, the gunman resumed firing from a short distance.

The suspect then fled across the street. Following this, according to a detailed timeline released by the New York Police Department, he got on a bike and rode into nearby Central Park.

Surveillance cameras recorded him leaving the park a few minutes later on the Upper West Side, where he caught a taxi north to a bus station near the George Washington Bridge. Video showed him entering the station but not leaving.

Who Was Brian Thompson?

Thompson, 50, lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He had been the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealth Group's insurance unit, since April 2021. He was in New York for the company's annual investor conference when he was killed.

Having worked at various UnitedHealth divisions for about 20 years, his wife, Paulette Thompson, shared, "Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives."

Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997, earning degrees in business administration and accounting, according to his LinkedIn page.

UnitedHealth is the largest U.S. health insurer. The company and Thompson were sued in May by a Hollywood, Florida pension fund, accusing them of insider trading following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into UnitedHealth.

What Evidence Have the Police Found?

The police have not yet publicly identified the suspect but released a photo showing his face, along with images of him masked. Investigators have recovered what they believe was the suspect's backpack from Central Park.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that a substantial amount of evidence has been gathered, including fingerprints, DNA evidence, and camera footage of the suspect's movements throughout the city.

However, DNA recovered from a phone, water bottle, and energy bar wrapper—believed to have been discarded by the gunman—has not matched anyone in law enforcement databases, according to CNN on Monday, citing an unnamed official.

Police confirmed that the suspect arrived in New York 10 days before the shooting on a Greyhound bus from Atlanta and checked into a hostel using a fake ID. While there, he kept his face covered, although he lowered his mask once to speak with a clerk, which resulted in the photo of his face.

Surveillance footage suggests he used a silencer, but Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny noted that this could not be verified solely based on the video. The gun has not been found.

NBC News reported that New York police detectives are traveling to Pennsylvania to question a man found with a gun similar to the one used in the shooting, but it remains uncertain if this case is connected to Thompson's death.

The New York police have offered a $10,000 reward, with the FBI adding another $50,000 for information leading to the shooter's capture.

What Was the Motive?

While the motive remains unknown, police noted that Thompson appeared to be deliberately targeted. Words such as "deny," "defend," and "depose" were carved into shell casings found at the scene. These words relate to the title of a 2010 book critical of the insurance sector titled "Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It."

Thompson's wife mentioned to NBC News that he had received some job-related threats, although she lacked details.

How Are Americans Reacting?

Thompson's murder has sparked frustration from Americans dissatisfied with health insurance claims denial, unexpected costs, and rising premiums—all trends supported by recent data.

Americans spend more on healthcare than any other country, leading many social media users to engage in attempts to solve the mystery of the shooter’s identity.