Eyewitnesses have come forward regarding the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. One unnamed individual revealed that the sound of a gunshot initially drew their attention.
On the morning of December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel before 7 a.m. in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Now, eyewitnesses have come forward to share details about what they heard and saw that morning.
Speaking to a news station, an unnamed witness recalled, “I hear a shot,” adding, “When I look around, I saw a guy with a gun.[sic]” The witness also noted that the suspect fired three shots before fleeing the scene.
A food cart vendor also happened to be near the scene, but he said he didn’t hear gunshots but saw two helicopters and police vehicles around. Amar Abdelmula, an Uber driver, is another person who was on the scene when the incident occurred.
He revealed that he watched the shooting happen and took a picture as the gunman ran away from the scene. Abdelmula said, “I was holding my phone, then I heard the shot and when I looked up, the guy had the gun, you know, the silent gun, and I saw him after he shot him, he ran across the street this way.”
Investigators believe the shooter used a silencer on the firearm. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the 50-year-old executive was reportedly walking to UnitedHealthcare’s investor conference when he was attacked.
An unidentified gunman approached Thompson from behind and fired multiple times. The late CEO was struck in the back and calf and was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West Hospital.
During the press briefing, one of Tisch’s colleagues revealed that they were trying to get more video surveillance from different locations. They were also getting information from “numerous sources.”
Watch as @NYPDPC and NYPD executives brief the media on an ongoing investigation in Manhattan. https://t.co/r5oX5kE6cI
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 4, 2024
A media outlet described the incident as a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack.” The outlet also shared surveillance footage of the shooting. In it, the gunman was seen waiting for several minutes before opening fire on the CEO. The suspect then trailed Thompson, who collapsed after being struck and then continued to fire at him.
According to police reports, it appeared that the gun jammed at one point during the attack, but the assailant cleared it and resumed firing. At the time of the shooting, Thompson was wearing a blue suit.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators recovered three live 9 mm rounds, three discharged shell casings, and a cell phone near the scene. Investigators also discovered a cellphone, believed to be the shooter’s, along an alley that the suspect reportedly used as an escape route.
They also found a bottle of water believed to have been purchased at a Starbucks around the corner by the suspect minutes before the shooting. According to a law enforcement official before he attacked Thompson, the shooter, visited the nearby Starbucks on Sixth Avenue.
The images, taken one block north from where the shooting occurred, showed the suspect standing at the Starbucks counter, with the pictures taken at around 6:17 a.m. The shooter allegedly bought a bottle of water and two power bars before leaving.
Investigators hope that the phone could have DNA or the suspect’s fingerprints, and if they manage to unlock it, the gunman’s identity will be clear. If the phone is a burner, investigators can use it to see the suspect’s searches and communications before the shooting.
The water bottle might also hold the DNA of the shooter. Police are still trying to find the bike and gun that the suspect used at the scene of the crime. As per the eyewitness account after the shooting, the suspect fled on foot, but reports further revealed that he obtained a city rental bike, and was last seen entering Central Park.
Police described the suspect as wearing a black hoodie and matching pants while carrying a gray backpack. On the afternoon of the shooting, the New York Police Department (NYPD) released three surveillance photos of the suspect who had his hoodie covering his head and a mask that covered his mouth.
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. https://t.co/rtfVynljXa pic.twitter.com/kUJr7l0nxZ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 4, 2024
The gunman was also seen in images where he was actively shooting and when he rode away on a bike. Officials asked X users and anyone who has any information to contact them at 1(800)577-TIPS.
Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the attack. But, Thompson’s wife, Paulette, disclosed that her husband had received threats before his death. She stated, “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know [the] details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
Thompson’s grieving family described him as an “incredibly loving, generous, and talented man,” and requested privacy during this challenging time.
In response to the tragic loss, UnitedHealth Group released a statement expressing its shock and sadness over Brian Thompson’s death.
The company described him as a respected colleague and friend and pledged full cooperation with the NYPD’s investigation. It also extended its heartfelt condolences to the late CEO’s family and loved ones.
