Unmasking the shooter: CEO's murder in Manhattan unfolds
Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance division, was tragically shot in Manhattan. TMZ confirms that the individual suspected of Thompson's murder arrived in New York by bus from Atlanta ten days before the incident.
Police sources state that the suspect arrived in New York on November 14th, using a Greyhound bus to the Port Authority terminal in Manhattan, and subsequently checked into a hostel.
Thompson was shot on Wednesday morning in front of a hotel in what appears to be a planned attack. The assailant fled the scene using a Citi Bike.
Authorities spoke with a hostel employee, who had interacted with the suspect and was able to persuade him to lower his mask, allowing them to obtain photos of his face.
The motive remains unknown, but on the bullet casings, the words: "deny," "defend," and "depose" were found. The police are investigating whether these inscriptions might provide insight into the motive for the crime.
The murder of Brian Thompson: 20 years with one company
Thompson arrived in Manhattan around 6:50 AM Eastern Time, intending to attend a conference organized by his company.
A masked man was reportedly waiting for him at the scene, who fired several shots at the 50-year-old before fleeing. Witnesses reported that the shots were fired from a distance of about 6 metres.
Thompson was critically injured in the chest. He was immediately taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was already in critical condition upon arrival. The doctors were unable to save him.
Brian Thompson had been with UnitedHealth for 20 years and was appointed CEO of the insurance division in 2021. He resided in Minnesota, where he reportedly purchased a 5-room house worth $1 million (CAD 1.4 million) in 2018. Before joining UnitedHealth, he worked for six years at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
