NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT)– New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Saturday that the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson has been identified, with authorities closing in on him, according to the New York Post.
“The net is tightening,” Adams stated during a Police Athletic League holiday party in Harlem. He chose not to disclose the suspect’s identity, emphasizing strategic secrecy.
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Brian Thompson, aged 50 and appointed CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division in April 2021, was fatally shot around 6:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday near the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, where he was heading for an investor conference. The attack was described by police as targeted, with the assailant, masked and waiting, shooting Thompson in the back.
Following the murder, an extensive manhunt ensued as the shooter escaped on foot, donned in a hooded jacket, balaclava, and carrying a gray backpack. He then switched to an electric bike and disappeared into Central Park.
Adams explained the rationale for withholding the suspect’s name, saying, “We don’t want to release that now. If you do, you are basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask.” He added, “We revealed his face,” alluding to the security footage that was shared with the public. “We’re going to reveal who he is and we’re going to bring him to justice.”
A backpack, similar to the one the suspect wore, was found near a playground in Central Park. Reports from MSNBC noted that the backpack contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but notably, no gun was found. Meanwhile, police divers were seen scouring a pond in Central Park for the murder weapon, as reported by CNN.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch indicated to CNN that a substantial amount of evidence had been collected, including fingerprints, DNA, and extensive camera footage tracking the suspect’s movements.
It’s believed that the suspect left New York City, with video evidence showing him entering but not exiting the Port Authority Bus Terminal. “Those buses are interstate buses. That’s why we believe he may have left New York City,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
A combined reward of $60,000 has been set for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, with $10,000 from the NYPD and an additional $50,000 from the FBI.
The attack appeared premeditated, with the shooter selectively targeting Thompson among other pedestrians. The motive remains unknown. Security footage captured the shooter approaching Thompson from behind, firing shots that struck him in the back and leg. Thompson, a family man with two children, was declared dead soon after at a nearby hospital.
UnitedHealth, under Thompson’s leadership, is the largest health insurer in the U.S., serving millions with healthcare costs being higher in America than anywhere else in the world.
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