UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting: Cops Release Clear Image of Brian Thompson Gunman

The New York City Police Department released new images of the man the believe assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, on Wednesday outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

The images reveal the suspect’s face, which had previously been concealed by a mask. In one photo, the gunman is even seen flashing a smile. The photos appear to have been taken at a hostel on the Upper West Side, where the suspect reportedly shared a room with two strangers.

Police have identified the individual as a person of interest wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting.

Thompson was ambushed and shot around 6:45 a.m. while walking alone from a nearby hotel to the New York Hilton Midtown, police said. The shooter appeared to have “lain in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Surveillance video shows the shooter approaching a figure in a blue suit and firing.

The UnitedHealthcare CEO had traveled to New York from Minnesota to attend an investment conference. UnitedHealth Group, the insurance parent company, was hosting its annual investor meeting to outline the company’s plans and expectations for the coming year. Following Thompson’s death, the company ended the conference early.

Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the attack but have described it as premeditated. In a statement shared on social media Thursday, the NYPD said, “This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premeditated, targeted attack.”

After the shooting, the attacker fled the scene on an e-bike, riding along Sixth Avenue toward Central Park, a location with limited surveillance coverage, according to police.

As the investigation continues, the NYPD discovered the words “Deny,” “Defend,” and “Depose” written on live rounds and shell casings found at the crime scene. Detectives believe these inscriptions may represent a message from the suspect.

While police have stated that the suspect is not believed to be a professional assassin, they are treating the killing as meticulously planned. Surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows the suspect hours before the attack near the Frederick Douglass Houses on the Upper West Side, carrying what appeared to be an e-bike battery. The connection between this footage and the shooting remains under investigation.

The pre-dawn shooting in the middle of Manhattan’s central business district rattled the city, happening just four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center.

The Hilton hotel is located within walking distance of several major tourist attractions, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is typically bustling with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings, and even more during the hoiday season. Many security cameras are positioned throughout the area.

The NYPD is urging anyone with information about the suspect to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). “We need the public’s help to identify the individual depicted in the photos we’ve shared,” police emphasized in their appeal.