Latest: Who Is Luigi Mangione? Police Identify 'Strong Person of Interest' in UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder
Authorities have identified a suspect in the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, 50, and are ramping up efforts to capture the individual. New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the development on Saturday, saying, "The net is tightening. We're going to bring this person to justice."
Thompson, who was CEO of UnitedHealthcare's insurance unit, was shot in the back on Wednesday morning near the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The attack occurred just before he was scheduled to address investors at the company's annual conference. Police have described the murder as a premeditated and targeted act.
Video surveillance captured the masked assailant lying in wait before approaching Thompson, raising a handgun, and firing. Thompson was struck in the back and leg and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The shooter, clad in a hooded jacket, balaclava, and gray backpack, fled on an electric bike toward Central Park.
Law enforcement officials believe the suspect has since fled New York City. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated, "We have video of him entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal. We don't have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus." He noted that interstate buses leaving the terminal complicate the search.
Police and FBI investigators have recovered several key pieces of evidence, including fingerprints, DNA, and surveillance footage tracing the suspect's movements. A discarded backpack resembling the one worn by the suspect was found in Central Park, containing a jacket and Monopoly money, but no firearm.
Investigators are also analyzing bullet casings recovered from the crime scene, which had the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" written on them-phrases associated with the insurance industry. Additional evidence includes a protein bar wrapper, water bottle, and a cellphone believed to belong to the shooter.
The FBI joined the investigation late Friday and has added $50,000 to the $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD for information leading to the suspect's capture. "It's a horrific incident in our city, and we want to make sure this person is removed off the streets of America, not only off the streets of New York," Mayor Adams said.
Despite identifying the suspect, authorities are withholding the individual's name. "We don't want to release that now," Adams explained. "If you do, you're basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking, and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all."
Thompson's killing has sent shockwaves through both the business community and the public. The executive, a married father of two, was well-known as the head of the largest U.S. health insurer, which provides benefits to tens of millions of Americans.
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the motive behind the assassination. Authorities are analyzing whether the crime was linked to Thompson's role at UnitedHealthcare, which has faced controversies over its practices.
The targeted nature of the attack has prompted increased scrutiny and urgency in the investigation. "We revealed his face," Adams said, referring to surveillance images released to the public. "We're going to reveal who he is, and we're going to bring him to justice."
