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Brian Thompson was targeted by a masked gunman in midtown Manhattan, leading to his death.
Brian Thompson was walking down the street when the gunman opened fire. (Photo Credits: X)
In a shocking incident, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. He was outside the New York Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan when a masked gunman approached him from behind and fired several rounds, the police confirmed. In what is being perceived as a “premeditated and preplanned” move by the police, the attack left the 50-year-old UnitedHealthcare executive severely injured, resulting in his death. While the police investigate the matter with a furious manhunt underway, fresh details have surfaced.
Brian Thompson, who is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and two sons, had been receiving threats over the past days, leading up to the grave attack on Wednesday morning. Speaking to NBC News, the slain CEO’s wife shared, “There had been some threats. I don’t know the details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.” She also claimed that the shooting was completely “planned.”
What Happened To Brian Thompson?
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, during a press conference, stated that Thompson was struck at least once in the back and once in the right calf, further adding that the gunman was “lying in wait for several minutes” before shooting his intended target.
The police have also accessed security footage showing the victim walking down the quiet street when the gunman approached him from behind and opened fire. While Thompson stumbled forward after the first shot, the gunman continued firing, making Thompson fall to the ground.
🚨💩GRAPHIC WARNING Thieving health insurance company “United Healthcare” CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in the filthy state of NewYork pic.twitter.com/f1ClWHB1DZ
— Nufseyd (@nufseyd) December 4, 2024
At one point, the gun even appeared to jam when the assailant paused to smack it on the side while walking towards the victim, who was struggling to get away. Later, he got onto a bike and disappeared into Central Park, the New York City Police Department said. The suspect now remains at large.
One of the witnesses also spoke to the media and said that he heard three shots while parking his car in the area. “I heard three shots, yeah, and then when I looked, there’s a man down. He’s a white male all in black, with a backpack. The guy was here, in the corner, the whole night,” he said, as per Fox News. On the other hand, Thompson, who was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition, was pronounced dead at 7:12 AM. The motive behind the attack is unclear.
