NEW YORK — While investigators have captured images of a suspect smiling on a hostel security camera, the man’s identity remains a mystery. After the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, authorities continue their investigation with a mixture of available evidence and unanswered questions about the shooter’s whereabouts and motives.
The police have not yet determined the suspect’s name, location, or reasoning behind the targeted attack. They believe this was not a random act of violence, heightening the urgency of the search. “The net is tightening,” stated New York City Mayor Eric Adams, emphasizing the city’s commitment to finding the perpetrator.
Following the shooting, which occurred outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday morning, police initiated extensive searches, including a recent dive into a pond located in Central Park where the suspect was last seen escaping. Among the clues found was a discarded backpack, leading officers to scour the surrounding area for more evidence.
On Saturday, law enforcement released two additional images of the suspect that were captured by a taxi camera. The photographs depict the individual outside the vehicle and looking through the cab’s partition, with his face partially obscured by a blue medical mask. Authorities have been utilizing surveillance footage to trace the suspect’s route post-shooting.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed that the suspect was identified on video boarding a bus approximately 45 minutes after the crime. As the search expands beyond the city limits, the FBI joined the efforts by announcing a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, adding to the NYPD’s own reward of up to $10,000 for tips.
Despite the intense manhunt, no significant news updates were provided over the weekend. Investigators remain cautious and continue to comb through video footage, social media accounts, and tips from the public, including interviews with Thompson’s family, colleagues, and fellow hostel guests.
“This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes,” Kenny remarked, stressing the meticulous nature of their investigation. The shooter was noted to have paid for accommodations with cash and showed signs of having potentially used a fake identification. He maintained a low profile during his stay, often limiting interactions and covering his face with a mask, only lowering it briefly to eat.
A crucial breakthrough came when security footage revealed an unguarded moment of the suspect showing his face shortly after his arrival in New York on November 24. However, police have struggled to identify him through facial recognition technology.
Just a day prior, investigators discovered a backpack in Central Park believed to belong to the gunman. While the contents of the bag have not been disclosed, they are undergoing testing for further insights. In addition, a fingerprint lifted from a Starbucks item purchased shortly before the murder has not yielded useful identification results thus far.
With the wealth of surveillance cameras throughout the city, police were able to trace the gunman’s movements. They confirmed he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. using a 9 mm pistol, a weapon typical for quiet extermination by farmers. Notably, the ammunition found at the scene contained the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose,” phrases often associated with criticism of the insurance industry.
The fact that the shooter knew about the UnitedHealthcare conference taking place at the hotel, along with Thompson’s expected route, raises suspicions that he may have had a personal grievance—potentially being a former employee or dissatisfied client.
According to video evidence, the suspect fled on a bicycle into Central Park before abandoning the bike and taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. The timeline following this moment remains a mystery, with investigators diligently searching for visual evidence of him boarding a bus or leaving the station.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch indicated there is reason to believe that the shooter has departed New York City. Investigators have identified that the suspect was in Manhattan for a period of ten days leading up to the shooting, having arrived via a Greyhound bus from Atlanta. After checking into the Hilton, he spent about half an hour in the vicinity before heading to a local hostel, where he interacted with staff and briefly lowered his mask, offering a fleeting glimpse that could be instrumental in their pursuit of justice.
