A manhunt was still underway Thursday for the masked gunman who fled midtown Manhattan after fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what police called a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack” the morning before.
The gunman, whom the New York City Police Department described as a “light-skinned male” wearing a “light brown or cream-colored jacket,” black face mask and a “very distinctive” gray backpack at the time of the shooting, remains at large. According to the NYPD, he fled the scene first by foot, then by electric bike. Police initially identified the e-bike as a Citi Bike, which has GPS tracking, but Lyft, which operates the bike share system, later said police informed the company that a Citi Bike was not used.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told MSNBC on Thursday morning that officials are “on the right path” in their search for shooter.
Police on Thursday also released photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the shooting.
🚨UPDATE: Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4. This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premediated, targeted attack.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 5, 2024
The full investigative efforts of… pic.twitter.com/K3kzC4IbtS
A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News on Thursday that shell casings found at the scene of the shooting had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them. Those words are also similar to those in the title of a 2010 book about insurance, although police have said there is currently no known connection.
Thompson, 50, had traveled to New York City from Minnesota for an investor conference this week. Police said he was walking to the Hilton hotel to speak at the conference early Wednesday when he was shot.
Thompson’s family said in a statement obtained by NBC Minnesota affiliate KARE on Thursday that they are “shattered” by his death.
“Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” they said. “Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.”
Police have not identified a motive in the shooting but said it does not seem to be a random act. According to security footage of the shooting, the gunman appeared to have been waiting for Thompson, police said.
A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News that before the shooting, the gunman bought a bottle of water and two protein bars from a nearby Starbucks and later discarded them. Police have collected those items as evidence, the official said.
