Who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? What we know about the suspect on the run

A suspect is on the loose in what police called the “brazen” targeted attack of Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare who was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel ahead of an investor conference on Wednesday.

The masked gunman appeared to be lying in wait outside the Hilton hotel in what police said was a “premeditated” attack. The shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson before shooting the victim in the chest around 6:40 a.m., police said.

Video captured the moment the gunman walked up behind the CEO, pointed his gun at him and fired. A witness fled as Thompson stumbled and fell to the ground. The gunman then walked closer to Thompson, firing more times before fleeing.

Suspect stayed at hostel

Police appear to be closing in on the identity of the shooter, sources told ABC News on Thursday morning.

The NYPD released new photos of the suspect, seen without a mask, on Thursday, while asking for the public’s help in identifying him. The images were taken from a surveillance camera at the HI New York City Hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Police had obtained a warrant to search after coming to believe the suspect stayed there, sources told ABC News.

Police were able to find an image of the suspect without his face mask because he was flirting with the woman who checked him into the hostel, police sources told ABC News.

As he stood at the check-in desk, the sources said the woman asked to see his smile. The suspected shooter obliged, pulling down his mask long enough for the surveillance camera to capture his face.

It appears the suspect shared a room with two other men, according to police sources.

The suspected shooter checked into the hostel using a New Jersey license that wasn’t his own, police sources told ABC News. Detectives ran the name and found it did not resemble any known photos of the suspect or other evidence amassed so far, the sources said.

The parent company of the hostel, Hostelling International USA, said in a statement that they are “fully cooperating with the NYPD” but cannot comment further due to the active investigation.

Detectives are currently canvassing other hostels and locations on the Upper West Side and beyond, showing the suspect’s picture as they work to identify him, sources said.

Writing discovered on shell casings

Detectives later discovered writing on the shell casings found at the scene where Thompson was gunned down, police sources told ABC News.

Detectives were working to determine whether the words were meant as a message from the shooter and a hint at his motive.

Written on the shell casings were the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” according to sources.

Other evidence: cellphone, water bottle, candy wrapper

After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said.

Police released photos of the suspect holding a firearm and on a bike.

Detectives have also retrieved a water bottle and candy wrapper from the area where he was apparently waiting, law enforcement sources said. After analysis, NYPD investigators believe the cellphone, candy wrapper and water bottle are linked to the shooter, police sources said.

At the same time, NYPD detectives are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to try and track down the shooter and with the FBI, which has the most sophisticated technology for retrieving usable data from cellphones, sources said.

Whereabouts prior to shooting

They also released photos of the suspect in a mask, captured at a Starbucks near the hotel before the shooting, according to ABC New York station WABC. He was described by police as wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a “very distinctive” gray backpack.

Sources told ABC News the shooter was also seen on video much earlier in the morning, at 5 a.m. the day of the shooting, near the hostel carrying what appears to be an e-bike battery.

Separately, surveillance footage reviewed by police shows someone who appears to be the suspect a little over an hour later exiting the subway at the 57th Street station, just blocks from the shooting scene, sources said.

Police are working to determine if the suspect prepositioned the bike and took the subway to the shooting scene, sources said.

Professional killer appears unlikely

The victim’s hotel room has already been accessed by investigators, whose top priority is determining Thompson’s most recent conversations and movements, sources said.

The working theory among detectives right now is that the shooting was carried out by someone who is not a professional killer because too many “mistakes” were made, sources said. Hitmen typically don’t carry cell phones to their hits and the shots were fired from a distance that would be considered “too far” away from the victim, the sources said.

At this point, detectives are trying to determine whether Thompson was targeted because of some type of personal conflict or as a result of his work as an insurance executive, sources said. The killer apparently had some knowledge of Thompson’s schedule on Wednesday and the fact that he would be arriving at the Hilton well before the company meeting was to begin, the sources said.

Police are interviewing Thompson’s colleagues and family about any potential specific threats, Kenny said.

What we know about the victim

Thompson, 50, was in New York City for the UnitedHealthcare investors conference, which was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. The conference was being held at the Hilton outside of which he was shot, but he was not staying there, police said.

UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, the largest health insurer in the world, said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson.”

“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said. “We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

Police urge the public to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS with any information. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.