The Daily Star Ireland
Authorities have identified a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, and are reportedly close to apprehending him, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as cited by the New York Post.
Mayor Adams announced that the police were closing in on the suspect, though he refrained from disclosing the individual’s identity to avoid giving the suspect any advantage. Thompson, 50, who became CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division in April 2021, was fatally shot in the back last Wednesday in what police are calling a targeted attack. The incident occurred just before UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference at the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue.
The assailant, described as wearing a hooded jacket, balaclava, and gray backpack, fled the scene on foot before riding away on an electric bike into Central Park. Mayor Adams stated that police are intentionally withholding the suspect’s name to prevent him from gaining any upper hand, adding that the authorities have released security camera images and videos showing the suspect.
Media reports indicate that a backpack similar to the one used by the suspect was found near a playground in Central Park. The bag contained a jacket and Monopoly money but no weapon. Police divers have been searching a pond in Central Park for the firearm used in the attack.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that the investigation has yielded substantial evidence, including fingerprints, DNA, and extensive video footage tracking the suspect’s movements. On Friday, the police stated their belief that the suspect had left New York City, citing footage of him entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The suspect was seen getting into a taxi and later entering the bus terminal, suggesting he may have boarded an interstate bus.
Authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture, with the FBI contributing an additional $50,000. The circumstances of the attack indicate it was premeditated, as the gunman appeared to wait specifically for Thompson while ignoring other pedestrians. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Security footage captured the gunman firing at Thompson from behind. Thompson, a married father of two, sustained gunshot wounds to his back and leg and was pronounced dead shortly after the attack at the hospital. UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S., serves millions of Americans who pay some of the highest healthcare costs globally.
