The FBI on Friday announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification of a suspect in the Dec. 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan.
The FBI is working with the New York City Police Department to find the gunman who fatally shot the 50-year-old executive and may have left town by bus, according to NYPD officials.
“We have reason to believe that the individual in question has left New York City,” said Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas just after 6:45 a.m. (local time) Wednesday morning after arriving early for the company’s annual investor conference. According to CBS News, police said a masked man approached him and shot him repeatedly.
Movement captured on camera
Despite wearing a mask during the attack, the perpetrator’s actions were captured by the city’s extensive security camera network. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney released surveillance footage showing the suspect cycling through Central Park after the incident, then taking a taxi to the bus terminal.
Footage obtained by law enforcement captured the suspect riding the subway and visiting various locations in Manhattan on the days of the attack, providing further insight into his movements.
The official noted that the man had consistently used cash payments at establishments caught on camera.
The location and identity of the assailant with the motive for Wednesday’s killing remain unknown. However, New York City authorities confirm that evidence suggests deliberate targeting.
How did the murder happen?
Brian Thompson died early Wednesday morning as he arrived at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel to prepare for a day of investor gatherings. The killer arrived outside the hotel and outside the exact gate through which Thompson was about to enter the hotel.
As Thompson walked toward the hotel entrance, the killer approached him from behind and fired at least three shots with a pistol equipped with a silencer.
As captured in surveillance footage, the gun jammed but the killer was skilled enough to clear it and continued firing. Brian Thompson turned around to face the killer and then collapsed. The assassin slowly walked towards him and fired the last shot.
What clues have been found so far?
Police were told Thursday they found a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper in a nearby bin, believed to have been purchased by the suspect from Starbucks shortly before the attack.
The killer was seen talking on the phone before the murder. It is yet to be confirmed whether the recovered phone has any link to the murder. The shell casings of the bullets were inscribed with the words “Denial”, “Rescue” and “Rescue”.
These words are somewhat similar to the title of the 2010 book “Delay Deny Defend.” This book is on insurance claims and UnitedHealthcare is also an insurance company — a subdivision of UnitedHealth Group.
‘Police on track to catch him’
Eric Adams, the NY mayor, expressed confidence in the police’s ability to catch the shooter during an interview, though he did not share new details about the status of the investigation. “We are on the right track to catch him and bring him to justice,” he told TV station WPIX.
Police officials believe the suspect arrived in NY via bus from Atlanta. Officials are working with Greyhound to gather information and verify whether the man purchased a ticket to New York in late November.
Analysis of mobile phone data, DNA testing
The investigation team is also analyzing data from a mobile phone recovered from a pedestrian plaza where the shooter fled.
According to Dave Komendat, DS Komendat Risk Management Services, some organizations use protective intelligence units that use digital technologies, including machine learning or artificial intelligence, to analyze online comments for threats on social media platforms like X and the dark web.
These units monitor discussions about the company, its staff and leadership to identify potential threats. Law enforcement officials are examining DNA and fingerprints from items found near the crime scene.
Companies address security concerns
Following the incident, UnitedHealthcare took steps to remove executive photographs from its website, along with their names and biographical information.
Healthcare executive meetings, like the one Brian Thompson was attending before his shooting, are considered high-risk events by numerous organizations, primarily because meeting details and speaker information are publicly available.