What we know so far about the murder of a healthcare CEO in New York

Police in New York have released two photographs of an unidentified man wanted for questioning over the murder of a health care chief executive.

Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old boss of UnitedHealthcare, was shot in the back outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning.

The attacker fled the scene without taking any of Thompson’s belongings. Police believe the victim was targeted in a premeditated murder.

Investigators are also using facial recognition technology and bullet casings with cryptic messages to trace the suspect. They have not yet revealed the motive for the firing.

Here’s what we know about the suspect and the investigation.

The shooting occurred at approximately 06:45 EST (11:45 GMT) in a busy part of Manhattan close to Times Square and Central Park. Thompson was scheduled to speak at an investor conference later in the day.

According to police, the suspect – who was wearing a black face mask and a light gray or cream-colored jacket – appeared to wait for Thompson for five minutes outside the Hilton Hotel, where he was expected to speak.

Thompson, who arrived on foot, was shot in the back and leg and was pronounced dead at a local hospital about half an hour later.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney has revealed that the suspect’s weapon jammed, but he was able to quickly fix it and continue shooting.

BBC Verify has established that CCTV footage shows the gunman had fitted a suppressor, also known as a silencer, to his pistol.

The video shows him fleeing the scene on foot. Authorities initially said the suspect used an electric city bike owned by Lyft.

But Lyft, which owns and operates Citi Bike, later said the NYPD had told it that one of its vehicles was not used, according to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.

So far, the investigation into Thompson’s murder has focused on a few clues that police are using to identify the suspect.

Authorities on Thursday released two photos of a masked man who the NYPD said was “wanted for questioning” in connection with the murder.

It is unclear if he is the same person as the suspect.

Earlier, police had revealed that the suspect was photographed at a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting.

While he is masked in the image, police sources told CBS that the mask is pulled down far enough so that his eyes and part of his nose can be seen.

With this, investigators are trying to find matches using facial recognition software.

Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the murder, although police noted that the attacker fled without taking any of Thompson’s belongings.

Additionally, police are conducting DNA testing of three bullet casings and three live cartridges found at the scene.

Two law enforcement sources told CBS that the words “denial,” “defend” and “delete” were found on the covers.

Investigators believe this may be a reference to the “three D’s of insurance” – a known reference made by opponents of the industry.

These terms refer to tactics used by insurance companies to deny paid claims to patients in America’s complex and mostly privately run health care system.

A mobile phone was found in an alley along the suspect’s escape route. Police say they are “working” the phone.

Investigators also said they executed a search warrant at a location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where he was seen entering earlier in the day.

The location is near the Frederick Douglass Housing Project, where police say surveillance video shows the suspect outside around 5 a.m. the morning of the crime.

Police had previously said they would also search Thompson’s room at a nearby Marriott, which is down the street from where the incident occurred.

Thompson joined UnitedHealth, America’s largest private insurer, from accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2004.

He moved up the ranks and became CEO in 2021, and led the company through some very profitable years.

In an interview with MSNBC, Thompson’s wife said that he had previously received “some threats” against him, although she was unable to provide details.

“All I know is that he said there were some people who were threatening him,” she said.

According to police in Thompson’s hometown of Maple Grove, Minnesota, there was previously a suspicious incident at his home in 2018.

The incident was covered up as no criminal activity was detected. No additional details were given.