The Blubber

Authorities have identified the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson and are closing in on him, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday, according to the New York Post.

“The net is tightening,” Adams remarked at a Police Athletic League holiday event in Harlem. While confirming progress in the case, he declined to reveal the suspect's name, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the advantage over the fugitive.

“We don’t want to release that now,” the mayor explained. “If you do, you’re giving a tip to the person we are seeking, and we do not want to give him an upper hand. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask.”

Referring to surveillance images of the suspect, Adams added, “We revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and bring him to justice.”

Details of the Murder

Brian Thompson, 50, CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance division since April 2021, was gunned down early Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan, just before UnitedHealth’s annual investor conference at the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue. The attack, described by authorities as premeditated, occurred at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET, when a masked assailant lying in wait shot him in the back.

The gunman, dressed in a hooded jacket, balaclava, and carrying a gray backpack, fled on foot before riding into Central Park on an electric bike.

Investigation Updates

On Friday, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that investigators believe the suspect left New York City after video captured him entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal. “We don’t have any footage of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus,” Kenny told CNN. Since these buses operate interstate, police suspect the suspect may have traveled out of state.

Authorities believe the killing was carefully planned, as surveillance footage showed the gunman ignoring other pedestrians while waiting for Thompson. The video captured the shooter raising his handgun and firing at Thompson’s back. Thompson, a father of two, suffered gunshot wounds to his back and leg and was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.

The motive for the killing remains unknown.

Company and Broader Context

UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S., provides coverage to tens of millions of Americans. Thompson’s murder has drawn significant attention, with his wife revealing that he had received threats prior to the attack. Security measures are being heightened across the industry as the investigation continues.