Police Release New Look at Suspect in Shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO

New York City's police released new images of the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson early Wednesday morning.

Thompson, 50, was shot dead near the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan at about 6:45 a.m., police said. The suspect, who was wearing a mask at the time, fired at Thompson and then fled the scene. Police are still searching for the gunman, who remained unidentified as of Wednesday afternoon.

Police put out new photographs of the suspect, whose face was covered by a mask and hood, just before 3 p.m.

"These are additional images of the suspect sought in connection to this morning's homicide. If you have any information about this incident, the suspect, or his location please contact @NYPDTips at 1(800) 577-TIPS," the police department posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Police said the gunman fled by foot to an alley and then got on a bicycle, driving toward the direction of Central Park.

Thompson was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was expected to speak at an investor presentation at the Hilton later in the day for UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the U.S. He had served as the company's CEO since 2021.

What We Know About Suspect Search

Earlier on Wednesday, police provided some details about the suspect during a press conference.

"The shooter appears to be a light-skinned male. He's wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack," said Joseph Kenny, the NYPD's chief of detectives.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the shooting as "brazen" and "targeted." The suspect was "lying in wait" for several minutes before the shooting, she said.

Kenny said that the suspect appeared to be "proficient with firearms" and that officers were "not able to make a determination on whether a silencer was used" based on video footage of the shooting.

The shooting comes as New York prepares for Christmas, the most festive time of year in the city. The iconic Rockefeller Center tree, just blocks from where the shooting took place, is set to be lit Wednesday evening. Officials expect the lighting will go as planned, with a large police presence.

Police said New Yorkers should continue with their daily lives in the city but need to be alert until the suspect is caught.

A phone was recovered in the alleyway near the Hilton and a forensics team was working to analyze it, police said. They added that the suspect fled on an E-bike and that they were working to track its GPS.

In a statement, UnitedHealth Group said the company is "deeply saddened and shocked" by the shooting.

"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," the statement reads.