Multiple videos and photos from surveillance footage have emerged on social media showing a suspected gunman shooting at UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas just after 6:45 am (local time) of Wednesday morning after arriving early for the company’s annual investor conference. A man wearing a mask approached him and fired at him repeatedly, police said as per CBS news.
The NYPD released a new photo of the hooded suspect standing in front of the counter at the Starbucks at W. 56th Street and 6th Avenue. In the photo a man was seen appeared to be a light-skinned male, wearing a light-brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a distinctive grey backpack.
Multiple videos are circulating on social media showing a gunman aiming at Thomson from a distance and shot twice once in the back and once in the leg.
One of the users on X shared the footage and said, "NYC has some of the strictest gun laws. That doesn't prevent the execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by a gunman using a gun with a silencer attached. It appears overreaching gun laws don't work. Murderers don't care about laws. Go figure."
Watch video:
"Footage of United Health CEO Brian Thompson being assassinated has been released. Clearly a hit job. Shooter is a pro using a suppressed weapon," another said.
According to the NYPD, the gunman fled on an e-bike towards Central Park.
The manhunt for the killer is underway. Authorities said the gun appeared to malfunction, and the gunman cleared the jam before firing again and fleeing northbound into an alleyway between 54th Street and 55th Street.
The shooter then continued to walk westbound on the Avenue of the Americas, where he got on to an electric Citi Bike and rode northbound towards Central Park, CBS news reported.
Police say they recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings. Authorities also recovered a cellphone.Authorities are also investigating the suspect's point of origin.
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