New York authorities are searching for the gunman who killed the UnitedHealthcare CEO and are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction.
Investigators were looking for clues to help them identify the masked gunman who stalked and murdered the CEO of one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was killed in an ambush early Wednesday morning as he headed to the company's annual investor conference at a Midtown Hilton, just blocks from tourist attractions like the Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.
The murder and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and after were captured by some of the multiple security cameras in that part of the city.
A video showed how he approached Thompson from behind, leveled his gun and fired several shots, pausing to clear a brief jam in the gun, as the dying healthcare executive fell to the pavement.
Other security cameras captured the first moments of his escape: he left the place crossing a pedestrian plaza and then escaped on a bicycle to Central Park, where he was lost.
The police used drones, helicopters and dogs in the extensive search operation, but the killer was still missing late into the night.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that although investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was not a random act of violence.
“Many people walked past the suspect, but he appeared to be waiting for his target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.
“Watching the video, it appears he was proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to fix the malfunctions fairly quickly,” said Joseph Kenny, police chief of detectives.
Police released several images from surveillance cameras, showing the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that covered most of his face and would not have attracted attention on a cold winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting.
Police offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Thompson's wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had told her “that there were some people who had threatened him.” He had no details, but suggested the threats could have been related to problems with insurance coverage.
Investigators recovered several 9mm bullet casings outside the hotel and a cell phone in the alley through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and checking his social media, Kenny said.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States and manages health insurance coverage for employers and federally and state-funded Medicaid programs.