In a shocking incident in Midtown Manhattan, the NYPD is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the person who shot and killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The tragic event unfolded early Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on 54th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.
Thompson, 50, was walking to the Hilton from his hotel across the street just before 7 a.m. when he was ambushed. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, this wasn’t a random attack. “All signs point to this being a carefully planned and targeted assault,” she said.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny explained that the shooter arrived about five minutes before Thompson. Hiding behind a car, the gunman waited for his moment. As Thompson approached the hotel at 6:44 a.m., the suspect stepped onto the sidewalk and followed him. When the shooter was close enough, he fired.
Thompson was shot in the back and the leg. Witnesses say the gun jammed after the first shot, but the shooter quickly fixed it and fired again. Afterward, the attacker fled through an alley, hopped on a Citi Bike, and rode towards Central Park. The NYPD is now working with the bike-sharing company to track the bike’s GPS to find him. A phone believed to belong to the suspect was recovered from the alley, but the weapon hasn’t been found yet.
The NYPD is urging New Yorkers to remain vigilant, though Chief Jeffrey Maddrey reassured the public that the city is safe. Police have ramped up security in the area, especially with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting happening the same evening. The event went on as planned, albeit with an increased police presence.
Thompson became UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in 2021 and was well-known in the corporate world. At the time of the shooting, UnitedHealth Group was holding an investors’ conference at the Hilton. The event was cut short after the news of the tragedy broke.
Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, addressed the situation, saying, “This is an incredibly serious and heartbreaking moment for all of us. We’re deeply saddened by the loss of Brian, a respected colleague and friend. Our thoughts are with his family.”
The New York Hilton Midtown also expressed condolences. “We are devastated by what happened this morning and extend our sympathies to everyone affected by this tragedy,” said a hotel spokesperson.
The entire city is now on edge, with police intensifying their efforts to catch the suspect. If you have any information, the NYPD urges you to come forward. Meanwhile, the community is mourning the loss of a leader whose life was taken far too soon.
