Manhunt underway for gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO in targeted Midtown attack

MANHATTAN, N.Y. – A manhunt is underway in New York City for a gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a calculated attack outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel Wednesday morning. The suspect remains at large, which prompted an intense search involving drones, helicopters and K-9 units.

Thompson, 50, was gunned down at 6:45 a.m. as he walked to the New York Hilton Midtown, where UnitedHealthcare was hosting its investor conference. Surveillance footage shows the assailant waiting behind a parked car before stepping forward and firing multiple rounds into Thompson’s back and calf. After a brief gun jam, the shooter resumed firing as Thompson stumbled and fell onto the sidewalk.

The gunman was able to fix the gun jam rather quickly, prompting authorities to believe that the suspect is a somewhat skilled marksman.

The suspect, described as wearing a jacket, face mask and carrying a large backpack, fled the scene on foot before escaping on an electric bike into Central Park. Despite a high-priority search effort, the gunman remains unidentified and at large as of Wednesday night.

“This was a brazen, targeted attack,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday, adding that no motive has been determined. Investigators released surveillance images of the suspect, including one showing him pointing and another riding a bicycle.

Minutes before the shooting, the suspect was recorded stopping at a nearby Starbucks. Police recovered several 9 mm shell casings and a cellphone from the alleyway the shooter used to flee the scene. Authorities were also searching Thompson’s hotel room interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News her husband had recently received threats, possibly linked to insurance disputes. Ammunition recovered from the scene was inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” – a phrase often used by critics of the insurance industry.

Authorities believe the suspect arrived in New York last month from Atlanta, traveling by bus and staying at a hostel under a fake New Jersey ID. Police released images of a person of interest taken at the hostel.

Thompson, a 20-year veteran of UnitedHealthcare, was among the company’s highest paid executives.

The NYPD has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police immediately.

Gavin Rollman is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gmr5526@psu.edu.