UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting: DNA recovered

NEW YORK — Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot outside of a New York City hotel Wednesday morning.

DNA recovered

Update 10:03 a.m. ET Dec. 6: The New York Times reported DNA has been recovered and has been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s lab for testing.

It is not known from where the DNA was recovered.

What you may have missed

Update 8 a.m. ET Dec. 6: New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the police are “on the right pathway” in their effort to find the alleged gunman who shot and killed Thompson. He said the investigation of the “targeted shooting” is “moving at a steady pace,” CNN reported.

The Associated Press reported that the man purchased the water and a protein bar at a nearby Starbucks. the water and protein bar wrapper were found by police in a trashcan near where the shooting occurred. Police were able to get a fingerprint off a water bottle that the man may have left behind. Officials said it was smudged. They are also trying to get into a phone that was found near the scene.

Police were still looking for the backpack the gunman wore. They combed Central Park using a grid search looking in garbage cans, dumpsters and bushes. The gunman was seen riding an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away from the shooting. It is believed he left the park via the West 77th Street exit without the backpack.

Police said he arrived in New York City on Nov. 24 by Greyhound bus that started the route in Atlanta. It is not known if that’s where he got on the bus, CNN reported. He then went to the hostel on New York’s Upper West Side and eventually checked out on Nov. 29. He then checked back in on Nov. 30 using a fake New Jersey driver’s license, CNN reported. He stayed in a multi-person room with two other men. He paid cash for his stay.

Employees at the hostel said the man almost always wore a mask when they interacted, the AP reported.

At one point, a female employee at the hostel said she was flirting with the man and asked him to remove his mask. The moment allowed police to get images of his full face.

New images released

Update 11:21 a.m. ET Dec. 5: The NYPD has released two new images of the man they said is a person of interest in the shooting death of Thompson.

The man, who has yet to be identified, is seen without a mask, but the hood of his jacket over his head. Still, you can see the man’s face and is in one image, smiling.

Police have image of alleged shooter without mask

Update 10:43 a.m. ET Dec. 5: Police told CNN they have a single image of the alleged gunman without his wearing a mask. Several officials said he wore a mask during most of the time he was at the hostel on 103rd and Amsterdam Avenue, but there is one usable image of him without his face covered.

He apparently stayed at the location in a multi-person room with two other men.

The New York Times has tracked down more information on the “distinctive” backpack worn by the gunman. The newspaper said it appeared to be one sold by Peak Design which sells bags that can retail for up to $330. The police have not identified the bag, other than to call it “distinctive.”

Hostel searched

Update 9:55 a.m. ET Dec. 5: CNN reported that police searched a hostel in Manhattan’s Upper West Side where they believe the gunman was staying. No details were provided on what they may have found.

As for the previously reported words found on the bullet casings. CNN reported that the word “depose” was on a casing from a round that hit Thompson. “Delay” was on a live round left at the scene after the gun jammed. Earlier reports said a third word was found, “deny.” Police believe it comes from the insurance industry phrase “delay, deny, defend,” according to CNN. The phrase, according to several law firms, means that insurance companies delay a claim, then deny it and finally, defend the denial.

Search warrant requested

Update 8:50 a.m. ET Dec. 5: ABC News reported that police are asking for a search warrant for an unspecified location in New York City where the alleged, but unidentified, gunman may have been staying. The news outlet said that the move signals that police may soon know the identity of the person.

Police also said that surveillance video showed the man outside Frederick Douglass Houses, a public housing project in the Upper West Side, about 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, ABC News reported. The person had what appeared to be an e-bike battery. Initially, police said the bike the gunman used to leave the area was a CitiBike, but Lyft, which operates the CitiBike system, said it was not one of theirs, The Associated Press reported.

Police also picked up a water bottle and candy wrapper from the shooting scene that may be connected to the gunman. They are being tested for fingerprints and DNA.

New surveillance images were released, some taken at a Starbucks just before the shooting, the AP reported.

It is still not known where the gunman is.

Police have offered up to $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Messages found on bullets

Update 8:42 a.m. ET Dec. 5: Shell casings left behind by the gunman who shot and killed Thompson had words written on them. ABC News reported that “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were on the casings with police now trying to determine if they point to a possible motive.

Despite claims by Thompson’s wife that there had been threats against her husband, Maple Grove, Minnesota, police chief Eric Werner, said that his department had not received any reports of threats, The Associated Press reported.

New photos of alleged shooter released

Update 2:57 p.m. ET Dec. 4: The New York City Police have released new images of the alleged gunman who they said shot and killed Brian Thompson on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Thompson’s wife released a statement saying, “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” CNN reported.

Paulette Thompson said, “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your well wishes and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.”

She told NBC News, “There were some people that had been threatening him,” but didn’t provide specifics. She suggested however that the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.

Police have not released a motive.

Police also released a timeline of what happened after they reviewed the surveillance video and gathered preliminary information, CNN reported.

Brian Thompson was walking near the Hilton in Midtown Manhattan, at 6:44 a.m. after he left his hotel which was across the street from where he was killed. He was scheduled to attend the United Healthcare investors’ meeting at the Hilton at 8 a.m.

The gunman approached Brian Thompson from behind shooting him in the back. The gunman then stepped closer to his target, the gun jammed, he cleared the jam and fired additional shots.

“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, according to The Associated Press.

Police received a 911 call at 6:46 a.m., and arrived at the Hilton at 6:48 a.m. At the same time, the alleged gunman was seen riding an e-Citi Bike into Central Park. Moments before that, he had run to an alley between 54th and 55th Street, walked across the Avenue of the Americas, and got the bike, CNN reported.

Brian Thompson was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.

Police said they recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings from the shooting scene.

NYPD release details

Update 11:45 a.m. ET Dec. 4: New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch gave new details on the shooting of Brian Thompson.

Tisch said that the alleged shooter was lying in wait for Thompson after several people walked past him. The alleged gunman shot Thompson several times at around 6:45 a.m. after approaching him from behind.

Police said the gun malfunctioned at one point and that the gunman cleared the weapon and was able to resume firing. It was said that the gun was a 9MM handgun.

“I want to be clear: At this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,” Tisch said.

He had wounds in his back and legs according to police officials. Thompson was taken to Mount Sinai West, which, police referred to its old former name, Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The gunman’s description changed slightly from earlier reports. Instead of a black jacket, he was wearing a cream or light brown jacket and had a “very distinctive” grey backpack, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

A cellphone was recovered from the alleyway where the alleged gunman ran.

The gunman was seen going into Central Park from Center Drive, riding a Citi Bike, which has a GPS device, that police said they should be able to be tracked.

There is no known motive. CBS News reported that Thompson was not robbed.

A $10,000 reward has been issued for information regarding the capture of the alleged gunman.

UnitedHealth Group released a statement, CNN reported.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

Original report: The New York Post was the first to report the shooting of Brian Thompson.

He was shot outside of the Hilton in Midtown and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition where he was pronounced dead.

The hotel is located on Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets, in the middle of popular tourist destinations.

CNN reported that officials are searching for the gunman.

Police believe it was a targeted shooting. The gunman was described as 6-foot, 1 inch tall; thin; wearing a black jacket, black hat, black ski mask and black backpack, WABC reported.

The gunman waited for Thompson, fired several shots and then went down an alleyway before hopping on a bicycle and riding away. Police believe he went into Central Park.

UnitedHealth Group’s CEO Andrew Witty “We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today,” when its investor day event scheduled for Wednesday was canceled, Reuters reported.

According to the company’s website, the meeting was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. in the Hilton’s ballroom.

Thompson was named the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the insurance division, in April 2021, CNN reported. He started at the company in 2004 and worked in several departments over nearly 20 years before being named to the latest position, according to the company. Prior to joining UnitedHealth, he was a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

UnitedHealth Group is the biggest healthcare company in the country, according to CNN.

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