A smile, a mask, and a mystery: New photos show CEO’s killer riding a taxi

The masked assassin who gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson remains a shadowy enigma. Investigators have security footage of him smiling at a hostel and a discarded backpack linked to his escape—but still no name or clear trail.

The gunman, described as calculating and elusive, struck outside the New York Hilton Midtown at 6:44 a.m. last Wednesday, ambushing Thompson with a silenced 9mm pistol as the executive arrived for an investor conference. The attack was swift and targeted, with chilling details like engraved shell casings bearing the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” hinting at a deeper motive.

Clues Without Answers

In the days since, police have pieced together fragments of the killer’s movements. Surveillance footage shows him fleeing on a bicycle into Central Park, where he abandoned the bike and later a gray backpack. Inside the bag, investigators discovered potential evidence, though its contents remain under wraps.

Detectives also tracked him to a hostel in the Upper West Side, where he paid cash, used a likely fake ID, and kept his face masked even in his room—lowering it only briefly to eat. But in a rare moment of vulnerability, he pulled down the mask to smile at a lobby employee, giving investigators their first unguarded glimpse of his face.

A Calculated Escape

The killer’s meticulous planning extended to his getaway. After leaving Central Park, he hailed a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, where he vanished into the city’s sprawling transit network. Police believe he boarded a bus out of New York, likely heading to Philadelphia, Boston, or Washington, but no footage has confirmed his departure.

Surveillance video reveals he was in the city for 10 days before the attack, arriving via a Greyhound bus from Atlanta. Investigators suspect he may have chosen his target after gaining knowledge of UnitedHealthcare’s conference at the Hilton.

A High-Stakes Manhunt

The NYPD and FBI have launched a massive manhunt, offering a combined $60,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Despite their efforts, including advanced forensic testing and hundreds of detectives combing through tips and video footage, the killer remains at large.

“This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not solving this in 60 minutes,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, underscoring the painstaking process of piecing together evidence.

As the search widens, the mystery deepens. Was this the work of a disgruntled employee? A client with a vendetta? Or something more sinister? With the assassin still evading capture, investigators are racing against time to unmask the face behind the chilling smile.