Key events
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:
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.”
“I can’t really give a thoughtful response right now. I just found this out and I’m trying to console my children,” she added.
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.”