Police Release New Photos in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Assassination Case
The NYPD has released two additional photos of the man suspected of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as the high-profile manhunt continues into its fifth day. Thompson, 50, was shot at point-blank range outside the New York Hilton early Wednesday in what officials have described as a “brazen and targeted attack.”
The newly released images show the suspect in a black hoodie and blue medical mask. One photo captures him peering through the partition of a New York City cab, while another shows him on the sidewalk wearing a hood and black puffer jacket. These updates follow earlier photos showing the suspect’s uncovered face as he interacted with a receptionist at a hostel days prior to the attack.
Breakthroughs in the Investigation
Investigators have made significant progress in recent days. Divers searched Central Park Lake, focusing near Bethesda Fountain, located a mile and a half from the carousel where the suspect’s backpack was found. The bag reportedly contained a jacket and monopoly money.
Additionally, forensics teams recovered DNA evidence, including a water bottle believed to have been purchased by the suspect before the shooting. A chilling clue has also emerged: the bullets used in the attack bore the inscriptions “deny,” “depose,” and “defend.”
The NYPD, with support from the FBI, has increased the reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest to $50,000.
Suspect’s Movements and Link to Atlanta
Authorities believe the suspect traveled to New York City from Atlanta on a Greyhound bus in November and fled the city just an hour after the killing on another bus headed back to Atlanta. The Atlanta Police Department has now joined the case to assist in tracking him down.
Details of the Attack
The shooter appeared calm and methodical during the attack, firing two deadly rounds that struck Thompson in the back and leg. A malfunction with the firearm, which may have been a rare WWII spy gun using 9mm rounds, has led experts to speculate it might have been staged to send a message.
No motive has been disclosed, but police remain confident that Thompson was deliberately targeted. Mayor Eric Adams has stated that investigators are closing in on the suspect, with his identity reportedly known to authorities.
As the case unfolds, the FBI and NYPD continue to appeal for public assistance to bring Thompson’s killer to justice.
