A gunman killed the CEO of the largest health insurance company in the U.S., UnitedHealthcare, in New York City. The shooting has shocked many people and companies. After the attack, the shooter quickly escaped on a bus, but he accidentally left behind a backpack in Central Park.
Almost four days later, police still don’t know who he is or why he did it. They think he might be unhappy with the insurance company and are looking into that possibility. The FBI is offering a reward of $50,000 for any information that can help catch him.
The gunman was seen riding a bike into Central Park and then taking a taxi to a bus station, which goes to New Jersey and other cities, but police don’t have footage of him leaving the station. They think he may have used a fake ID and paid in cash when he checked into a hostel near Columbia University.
The police found some items linked to him, like a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper, and they are checking for his DNA. Security cameras captured a picture of him smiling in the hostel lobby, but he kept his mask on most of the time, making it hard to identify him.
Witnesses say he was quiet and didn’t talk to anyone at the hostel. The police searched his hotel room but didn’t find anything useful. They have to gather a lot of information before they can make an arrest.
The shooter attacked Thompson from behind, using a quiet gun to avoid drawing attention. Some words were found on the bullets, which may connect to the idea of insurance companies delaying payments and denying claims.
Thompson, a father of two boys, had worked for UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and had been the CEO for over three years. After the tragic event, UnitedHealth Group paused its annual meeting and focused on helping Thompson’s family and workers.
The shooting has made other health insurance companies rethink their security, with some even telling their employees to work from home.
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