UnitedHealthcare CEO’s wife calls shooting ‘senseless killing’ as police release images of suspect – latest updates | New York
Paulette Thompson calls attack on her husband 'senseless'
Brian Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, has released a statement, calling the killing of her husband “senseless.”
The statement, obtained by CNN, states:
We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian.
Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives.
Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.
We appreciate your well wishes and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.
Key events
Steve Parente,a health economist at the University of Minnesota and a former healthcare official in the first Trump administration, has praised Thompson, describing him as an “incredible guy.”
In an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Parente said that he worked with Thompson to help develop a system for distributing federal financial aid to healthcare providers during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, while Parente was working in the White House.
”He was just an incredible guy – nice, resourceful,” Parente said. “This is just a total tragedy.”
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith has also commented on the killing, calling it a “horrifying tragedy.”
Shooting will not impact the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, police say
Police said during the news conference that the shooting would not affect the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, which is only a few blocks away from the Hilton Hotel.
“Millions of people will be enjoying the tree lighting tonight, among other holiday events, and the NYPD will be out there with them, keeping them safe” New York City Police Commissioner, Jessica Tisch said.
The tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 pm ET on Wednesday evening.
“This incident will not affect the tree lighting” a police official added. “The Tree Lighting is slated to start at 7pm, the actual lighting of the tree will be closer 10 o’clock.”
“We will have a massive police presence out there around Rockefeller Center from 52nd street all the way down to 47th Street” authorities said, adding that additional police officers were also going to be in the subway as well.
A witness who heard the gunfire described the incident as “pretty scary.”
Christian Diaz told Reuters he heard the gunfire from the nearby University Club Hotel where he works.
“The police were here in seconds” Diaz said. “It’s New York. It’s not normal here at seven in the morning but it’s pretty scary.”
New York police investigators walk along 54th Street outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. Photograph: Stefan Jeremiah/AP
Paulette Thompson calls attack on her husband 'senseless'
Brian Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, has released a statement, calling the killing of her husband “senseless.”
The statement, obtained by CNN, states:
We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian.
Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives.
Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.
We appreciate your well wishes and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.
Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips has shared a statement on the shooting.
“I’m horrified by the assassination of my constituent, Brian Thompson, this morning in NYC and have his family in my prayers,” Phillips posted to X.
The suspect was last spotted in Central Park, authorities say
Police said on Wednesday that the gunman was last seen in Central Park on center drive early on Wednesday morning, after fleeing the scene by foot and then on an electric Citi Bike.
As of Wednesday afternoon, a helicopter was reported flying overhead in Central Park, according to the New York Times.
A former UnitedHealth Group executive who worked with Thompson for over a decade has described him as “humble” and a “family man.”
Speaking with the Minnesota Star Tribune, John Penshorn, a former UnitedHealth Group executive who worked with Thompson for more than a decade before retiring in 2019, said that Thompson was humble, a servant-leader and family man.”
The Minnesota Star Tribune is reporting that the principal of Wayzata High School, where one of Thompson’s sons is currently a student and the other has recently graduated, sent a note to staff this morning expressing deep sympathy for the family.
“Wayzata High School has taken immediate steps to support our students and staff, as they process this devastating event,” Principal Scott Gengler wrote in a memo shared with the Star Tribune.
“Our student support teams are available and are offering a safe and supportive space for students and staff to grieve and find comfort” it added. “Additionally, our dedicated team of social workers is available to provide personalized support and guidance for those who need it.”
A spokesperson for Lyft, which runs CitiBike, said that the company was ready to help authorities with the investigation.
The spokesperson, Eric Smith told the Washington Post that the company stood “ready to assist law enforcement with this investigation.”
Smith added that the company had yet not been contacted by New York police regarding the investigation as of Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities have said the gunman fled the scene of the shooting on a electric CitiBike bicycle.
Police release security camera images of gunman as manhunt continues
Here are the photos that the police have released of the gunman:
This handout image released by the New York Police Department (NYPD) via X (formerly Twitter) on December 4, 2024 shows the individual sought in connection to the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Photograph: NYPD/AFP/Getty ImagesThis handout image released by the New York Police Department (NYPD) via X (formerly Twitter) on December 4, 2024 shows the individual sought in connection to the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Photograph: NYPD/AFP/Getty Images
New York governor Kathy Hochul says 'hearts are with the family' after 'horrific' shooting
New York governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she has been briefed on the “horrific and targeted shooting”.
According to the Washington Post, Hochul said that she has directed state police to provide local authorities with “any necessary assistance.”
“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Thompson and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrator is brought to justice” Hochul added.
Rachel Leingang
Reporting from Minnesota:
UnitedHealthcare has been the subject of public and governmental scrutiny for its practices, particularly its pattern of denying coverage for claims.
At a protest outside the company’s headquarters in Minnesota in July 2024, 11 people were arrested and cited for blocking a roadway after gathering to protest United Healthcare’s coverage issues, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. At the time, the company said its employees’ safety was its top priority.
People’s Action Institute, which organized the July protest and an earlier one against the company, said in July that people who are on the company’s insurance and medical professionals had “petitioned, protested and spoken directly to the chief medical officer of UnitedHealth Group about our concerns, but their leadership has refused to acknowledge that prior authorizations and claim denials are a widespread problem.”
Jenn Coffey, who used to be a Republican state lawmaker in New Hampshire, has participated in protests against the company and spoken publicly about claim and coverage denials for medical treatment.
“I stood in United healthcare’s Headquarters in Minnesota and told them I didn’t want to die,” she wrote on her website. “I’m left feeling that is the very thing they are hoping for.”
Brian Thompson’s sister-in-law Elena Reveiz said this morning that she was still processing the news of Thompson’s death.
“He was a good person, and I am so sad,” Reveiz told the New York Times, adding that Thompson was a good father to his two children. Reveiz said she was on her way to be with their family.
Brian Thompson's wife says he received threats
While the motive still remains unclear, Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, has said that he had been receiving threats.
“There had been some threats,” she said in a phone call with NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
She also told the outlet that the police had informed her that it appeared the shooting was “a planned attack.”
Amy Klobuchar, the US senator from Minnesota, described the shooting as a “horrifying and shocking act of violence”.
In a statement she added: “My thoughts are with Brian Thompson’s family and loved ones and all those working at UnitedHealthcare in Minnesota.”
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, called the shooting “horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and healthcare community in Minnesota.”
In a statement on Wednesday, he added that “Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”
Who is Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson, 50, was named chief executive officer for UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to the company.
Prior to this role, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare and retirement and community and state.
Before leading government programs, Thompson served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare medicare and retirement.
Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said that the shooting did not appear to be a random attack and that police were reviewing evidence from the scene.
“This was not what appears to be a just random act of violence” Adams said, according to the Associated Press. “It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual.”
