The urgent manhunt for the suspect who gunned down United
Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of New York City hotel.
Our senior investigative correspondent Eric Kotersky is at the hotel
with the latest on the investigation.
Good morning to you, Aaron.
Good morning to you, Robin.
24 hours after this assassination style killing, the killer is
at large, but he left behind a trail of clues
here at the scene that may lead police to him
and to a possible motive suggesting anger with the insurance
industry.
This morning a frantic manhunt for the man authority spotted
on this surveillance video shooting and killing Brian Thompson, the
CEO of United Healthcare.
Police said it was no accident.
Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre planned
targeted attack.
The gun appears to have a silencer and jammed.
When the shooter cleared it.
Police say he fired again.
From watching the video, it does seem that he's proficient
in the use of firearms as he was able to
clear the malfunctions pretty quickly.
All units be advised in regards to a confirmed male
shot in the compound of the Midtown N Police say
it was around 6:45 AM.
Wednesday when the suspect pictured at a Starbucks before the
shooting gunned down Thompson as he was walking alone into
the Hilton for an investors conference and a new video
overnight.
The shooter seen here about 20 minutes before the shooting.
They're looking for a male about 5 feet 10 inches
in height, cream colored jacket, black mask, black gloves.
It does seem this eyewitness snapping a picture of the
suspect as he fled.
I was shocked, you know, and I, I afraid that
he could shoot me to it.
By the time police arrived, the suspect had run off
and hopped a bicycle to get away.
Detectives now working to determine whether he had pre positioned
that bike close by.
New video overnight showing the suspect peddling his bike on
the Upper West Side.
Officers found the 50 year old insurance executive and father
of two collapsed on the sidewalk.
Did he have any known enemies or anyone that you've
been able to find so far?
We're reaching out to law enforcement in Minnesota and we're
also interviewing his Co workers and family members to see
if there have been any specific threats against in the
past.
To have a pillar of the community in New York,
admittedly for a stockholder meeting to be gunned down on
the street, it's just so foreign.
Even as the leader of a large corporation, Thompson did
not have a security team with him.
Investigators say they found shell casings with writing on them,
including the words deny, defend and depose.
They also say they found a cell phone, granola bar
wrappers and a water bottle they believe are linked to
the shooter.
This brazen assassination style killing coming at the height of
the holiday season.
While New York is packed with tourists for the nearby
lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the NYPD increased
patrols and security in the subways.
You know, day-to-day in New York is really scary and
I think that everyone here is doing their part to
make sure that we have a safe event here.
A family is now grieving this loss.
Thompson's wife Paulette telling ABC News.
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.
Police have not identified the suspect, but they are building
a profile, Robin, of a man with a grudge, possibly
against United Healthcare or the insurance industry in general.
Robin and Aaron, what about the writings on those bullet
casings?
What does that tell police?
That could be another clue toward motive to take the
time to actually write on the shell casings indicates not
only premeditation but also a deeply personal type killing.
And those words deny, depose, defend.
Those are words often associated with the insurance industry.
Robin.
All right.
Thanks to you, Aaron.