2 weeks ago
The gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have fled New York City on a bus, police said, as the FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
New photos released by the New York Police Department show the face of the man suspected of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP via NYPD)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 7, 2024 12:30 IST
The gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is believed to have left New York City on a bus following the brazen attack, police officials said.
Despite a massive manhunt, authorities have yet to identify the suspect four days after the shooting. The FBI has joined the investigation and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest.
Police on Friday recovered a backpack belonging to the suspect in Central Park. Authorities are analysing the contents of the backpack for potential clues.
Manhunt for killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO: 10 points
Brian Thompson, 50, the CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance unit, was shot in the back and leg on Wednesday outside a hotel in Manhattan, where he was attending an annual investor conference. Police termed the shooting as a targeted attack.
Video footage shows the gunman riding a bicycle into Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal that offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington DC. According to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after the shooting.
The FBI announced on Friday that it is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Thompson's death. This reward supplements the $10,000 reward previously announced by the NYPD.
Police have found a backpack in Central Park that the gunman wore during the shooting. The backpack, discovered after a thorough search of the park, is being analysed for clues, though its contents have not been disclosed.
The gunman arrived in New York City on November 24, having traveled on a bus from Atlanta. He checked into a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side using a fake identification card and paying in cash.
Photos of the suspect, taken in the hostel lobby, show him smiling and ostensibly flirting with the receptionist, providing one of the few unmasked glimpses of the individual.
Investigators are examining various leads, including DNA traces from a discarded water bottle and a protein bar wrapper, as well as a burner phone found along the gunman’s escape route.
Police also recovered bullet casings with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" inscribed on them at the scene. The words echo the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” often used by critics of insurance companies that delay payments, deny claims, and defend their actions.
In the aftermath of the attack, UnitedHealth Group and other health insurers have taken down pictures of their executives from their corporate websites and tightened security measures. Managed care giant Centene has decided to stream its investor day event instead of holding it in person.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspect, described as a middle-aged man of average build, to come forward. They are exploring the possibility that he may have been a disgruntled employee or client of the insurance giant.
Published By:
Devika Bhattacharya
Published On:
Dec 7, 2024
