The individual suspected of the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, remains at large nearly five days after the incident on December 4 in New York City. Authorities believe the suspect has fled the city, though details about him are scarce as the investigation progresses.
On December 8, the New York Police Department released new images of the unidentified suspect. The photos show the suspect’s eyes as he looks forward from the back seat of a taxi and standing outside the taxi wearing a black jacket and medical mask.
Reports indicate the suspect stayed in New York City for over a week before the shooting, having arrived on a Greyhound bus from Atlanta on November 24. However, it is not confirmed if this marked the beginning of his journey.
Police suspect the individual stayed at the HI New York City hostel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, checking in before November 29 and again on November 30 using cash and a fake New Jersey ID. The clearest images of the suspect were captured at the hostel, where he reportedly lowered his mask to flirt with a woman while checking in.
Few other details about his appearance are available, but on December 4, the New York Police released images of the suspect shooting Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan with an unidentified, sound-suppressed 9 mm pistol. Additional footage shows him inside a Starbucks before the incident, revealing a light-skinned male wearing a gray backpack, black and white sneakers, and a hooded jacket.
The gunman appeared to be waiting for Thompson that morning, suggesting a targeted attack, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a December 4 press conference.
Despite his gun jamming during the incident, the shooter demonstrated proficiency with firearms, quickly clearing the malfunction, stated Joseph Kenny, NYPD Chief of Detectives.
The suspect left behind minimal evidence, but police reportedly recovered a phone in the alley used for his escape, a water bottle, and a protein bar wrapper purchased at a nearby Starbucks before the murder. A backpack suspected to belong to the shooter was found in Central Park, containing a jacket and Monopoly money.
Bullet casings at the scene were reportedly inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” possibly referencing criticisms of the insurance industry and their methods of denying medical claims.
Police reports, photos, and video footage traced the suspect’s movements through Manhattan on December 4. He was seen walking away from the crime scene, riding an electric bike, entering Central Park early in the morning, and being captured on camera at the George Washington Bridge bus station less than an hour after the shooting. Authorities suspect he left New York City on a bus.