NYC manhunt underway after killing of healthcare CEO

Authorities on Wednesday searched New York City for a male suspect in the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Surveillance footage recorded early Wednesday showed that Thompson neared a business conference venue in Midtown before someone approached from behind, firing several times, Tisch said at a news conference. Thompson was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead just after 7 a.m.

The suspect was last seen in Central Park after fleeing the scene on foot and, later, on an electric bike, Tisch continued. Initial investigation suggested that Thompson was targeted and the attacker was not a risk to the general public, Tisch said.

What makes the police think the shooting was not random? Tisch noted that the attacker arrived at the scene early and waited several minutes before striking. Dozens of people passed the shooter but he specifically chose to attack Thompson, she said. Authorities were unsure of the shooter’s motive but began forensically processing a cell phone recovered from the suspect, NYPD Chief Detective Joe Kenny said at the Wednesday press conference. The city offered a $10,000 reward for information on the shooting suspect who Kenny described as a light-skinned man in a neutral-colored jacket, a black face mask, sneakers, and a distinct gray backpack.

WORLD reached out to United Healthcare for comment on the shooting but did not immediately receive a reply.

Police at an afternoon news conference insisted that the attack would not affect the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting scheduled for Wednesday night. There will be a heavy police presence at the event, with many plain-clothed officers, NYPD Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey said.