Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot dead outside a hotel in Manhattan on Wednesday, the 4th of December 2024, just before he could attend the investor’s day of his company. The incident has triggered an urgent manhunt across the country as the New York Police Department is searching for the shooter. The footage of the incidents has also been released which provides an insight on the modus operandi of the killer. This article provides you with all the details that we know so far about CEO Brian Thompson’s shooter and what exactly happened on the day the murder was committed as seen in the footage.
CEO Brian Thompson Shooter: About Brian Thompson
Brian Thompson was a significant name in the global healthcare industry as he was the Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare. He has been operating the investment division of the healthcare giant in Minnesota since the year 2021. He was reportedly one of the highest paid executives of the company earning an annual package of $10.2 million. The profitable earnings of the company during his tenure rose from $12 billion to $16 billion in 3 years. According to the family and the employees working under him, he did not seem to have any issues with anyone nor had a security detail.
Also read: Brian Thompson Net Worth: The Salary And Fortunes Of Late UHC CEO
What Exactly Happened On The Day The Murder Was Committed?
According to the footage of the incident, Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan at 6:44 AM on the 4th of December 2024 while he was walking toward New York Hilton Midtown. The police department stated that the killer was seen waiting around for Thompson to appear for around seven minutes. When Thompson was alone in front of the hotel he emerged from behind a car, approaching him from the back and raising the gun in his hand when he was in feet distance.
The gunman shot Brian as he walked towards him and the footage also revealed that the shooter apparently had a malfunction in his gun which he fixed and fired again. He fired 3 shots at Brian after which the CEO is seen taking a few steps, turning toward the killer, and then collapsing over the pavement.
Around two minutes later, at 6:46 AM, the officers answered a 911 emergency call about someone being shot. Brian was then rushed to the Mount Sinai West Hospital at 6:48 AM where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 AM.
Where Did The Incident Take Place?
Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan right in front of the New York Hilton Midtown which is located at 237 West on 54th Street. This location is a pretty busy area and a significant tourist attraction because of the Modern Museum Of Art and the Rockefeller Center where one of the most famous Christmas trees was supposed to be lit on Wednesday itself.
What Do We Know About The Killer So Far?
Ceo Brian Thompson’s shooter, according to the footage and various reports, seemed to be a light-skinned man wearing a dark hooded jacket along with dark trousers, a grey backpack, and a mask that covered his face. His arrival at the crime spot seemed to be around 10 minutes prior to the shooting. It is also reported that he also stopped at a nearby Starbucks which is located on Sixth Avenue 30 minutes before the shooting. At 6:30 AM he was seen making a phone call as he was walking down the pavement approximately 53 meters away from where he shot Brian.
It was also apparent that he knew his way around weapons as he could be seen fixing the malfunction in the gun pretty easily. The authorities investigating the crime scene found 3 live 9mm rounds along with 3 discharged 9mm shell casings. He was seen fleeing toward the North on Sixth Avenue after the shooting and then jumping on an electric bike taken by him from Central Park.
CEO Brian Thompson’s Shooter: Efforts By The NYPD
The murder of Brian Thompson seems to be a case of target killing but the motive of it still remains unknown. Paulette Thompson, wife of Brian Thompson, in an interview with NBC News, said that there were some threats against her husband. The shooting has triggered a manhunt for the killer and the police department is offering a sum of $10,000 to anyone who offers any information about Brian’s murder.
