An unidentified gunman approached UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from behind Wednesday morning and opened fireplace outdoors the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, then vanished into the streets of the Huge Apple, prompting a large-scale manhunt.
Authorities haven’t revealed a motive, however after bullet casings on the scene had been discovered with phrases “deny”, “depose” and “defend” written on them – a attainable reference to the e-book “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance coverage Corporations Do not Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It” – hypothesis swirled that the slaying might have grown out of resentment for a denied declare.
Thompson was separated from his spouse, Pauline, on the time of his dying and the Minnesota-based agency’s father or mother firm laid off employees in a number of states in September, based on The Star-Tribune.
UNITED HEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON MURDER: LIVE UPDATES
This 2017 file picture of Brian Thompson was launched by way of Businesswire when he was named Chief Government Officer of UnitedHealthcare Unit in 2017. (Businesswire)
As police retrace the suspected murderer’s steps and hunt for a killer, here is a timeline of how issues went down.
UNITED HEALTHCARE CEO MURDER: INVESTIGATORS START SMALL, FOCUS ON FAMILY IN SEARCH FOR MOTIVE
A screenshot from surveillance footage launched by the NYPD exhibits an individual of curiosity wished in connection to the taking pictures dying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was killed in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crime Stoppers )
Within the days earlier than the assault, police sources inform Fox Information the gunman took a Greyhound bus from Atlanta, Georgia, to New York Metropolis.
He checked right into a hostel close to Central Park earlier than the homicide, utilizing a pretend ID and paying in money.
Safety digital camera captures particular person of curiosity within the homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Gideon Platt/Stage Star Deli)
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Round 6:14 a.m.: Earlier than the assault, the NYPD recovered a surveillance video from a Midtown espresso store displaying the masked suspect, and surveillance video from outdoors the Stage Star Deli close to the nook of fifty fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue exhibits him passing by a number of occasions minutes later.
The NYPD launched nonetheless photographs of the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO murderer in a Starbucks retailer close to the scene of the crime shortly earlier than it occurred. (NYPD)
Round 6:40 a.m: Surveillance video outdoors the lodge recorded the ambush.
It exhibits a masked man who was ready outdoors the venue stepping behind Thompson, who was approaching from one other lodge throughout the road, and taking pictures him from behind – within the leg by way of the again and thru his chest.
Police arrived in lower than three minutes, however the suspect had already fled. Thompson, a Minnesota native who was in New York for a work-related convention, was unconscious and unresponsive, based on the NYPD. He was rushed to a hospital and pronounced lifeless.
A surveillance picture launched by the NYPD exhibits the suspect within the taking pictures dying of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crimestoppers)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Cameras present the killer’s path heading away from the scene. He dropped a cellphone in an alley between 54th and fifty fifth streets, which authorities had been checking for fingerprints and different clues. He turned up the Avenue of Americas, bought on a motorcycle and headed north towards Central Park. When he emerged from the park, he wasn’t carrying a backpack noticed in prior surveillance video.
Round 7 a.m.: Video exhibits a person who seems to match the gunman’s description using a motorcycle on the Higher West Facet, greater than 30 blocks away from the crime scene and on the opposite facet of Central Park. He’s now not carrying the backpack captured on earlier surveillance video.
Police had been looking the park for proof Friday morning.
The NYPD is providing a $10,000 reward within the case, asking the general public to name the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). It’s also possible to submit a tip by way of their web site. All calls are saved confidential.
Fox Information’ Alexis McAdams, Julia Bonavita and Christina Coulter contributed to this report.
