NYPD Still Searching for Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Targeted Shooting Attack

This image provided by the New York Police Department shows the suspect sought in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference on Dec. 4, 2024. New York Police Department via AP

Officials with the New York Police Department (NYPD) were still searching on Dec. 5 for the man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, a city council member said.

Thompson, the head of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit, was shot from behind on Dec. 4 at about 6:45 a.m. in what police said was a targeted attack in which a masked suspect had lain in wait. Thompson was approaching a hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding its investor conference.

Investigators have not yet revealed whether they have a suspect in mind, and no motive has been ascribed, NYPD officials said in a news conference on Dec. 4. Officials have not provided any updates or briefings since then.

Keith Powers, a New York City Council member, told CNN that the NYPD said the investigation is underway, adding, “I have confidence that we’re going to bring this person into custody.”

Authorities in the city are working around the clock to find and arrest the suspect, he said.

“We want people to be coming into Manhattan—certainly that part of Manhattan,“ Powers said. ”So we want to assure people that there are safety measures in place, and we also have to make sure we apprehend the suspect so that people can have real confidence that he’s not still out there.”

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Dec. 4: “This does not appear to be a random act of violence. Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”

The suspect, described as a “light-skinned male” who was wearing a “cream-colored jacket” along with white and black shoes, was last seen fleeing toward Central Park’s Center Drive, officials said on Dec. 4.

Surveillance footage released by the NYPD showed the suspect approach a man wearing a suit before firing several shots from behind. The suspect also appeared to be manually racking the slide of his handgun, which may have had a suppressor attached.

Officials have not provided any information on whether the assailant was using a suppressor. It’s also not clear whether the suspect was manually racking the slide to clear the firearm’s chamber because of a malfunction or for some other reason.

Police have published a number of photographs of the suspect taken from video cameras in the area, including one with the gun raised and pointed toward Thompson and another of the suspect fleeing on a bike. Other photos captured a glimpse of his eyes, his brow, and the bridge of his nose as he stood in a café. A caption on the image asks the public for help identifying the man.

UnitedHealth said in a statement on Dec. 4: “We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News in an exclusive interview that her husband had been receiving threats, possibly related to his job.

“There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details,” she told the outlet, possibly referring to insurance coverage. “I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

UnitedHealth is considered the largest health insurance provider in the United States. It’s also one of the largest U.S. companies, according to Fortune magazine.

Reuters contributed to this report.