The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the shooter who murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4.
This increases the cumulative reward offered by law enforcement agencies to $60,000, following the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) previous statement of a $10,000 reward for leads regarding the suspect’s identification.
In a recent statement, the FBI announced on Friday that it is working alongside the NYPD in “requesting the public’s help in locating the unknown individual” responsible for the death of the 50-year-old.
Thompson was shot fatally by an attacker wearing a mask in what authorities suspect was a targeted shooting. The motive behind the murder remains undisclosed.
The shooting incident took place outside 1335 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, at approximately 6:40 a.m. on December 4, according to the FBI’s report.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to reach out to the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-225-5324 or contact the NYPD’s tipline at 1-800-577-8477.
Authorities believe that the shooter arrived in New York City on November 24 via a bus service from Atlanta and allegedly shot the victim ten days later.
On Friday, police stated they discovered a backpack in Central Park, which is believed to be associated with the shooter. The suspect is thought to have left New York City after the incident.
Footage from video cameras captured the assailant fleeing the scene on an e-bike to Central Park in Manhattan, and then leaving the park near 77th Street. He subsequently walked to another location before flagging down a taxi that took him to the Port Authority bus terminal close to 178th Street and Broadway, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny informed CNN on Friday.
“Those buses are interstate buses. That’s why we suspect he may have exited New York City,” he noted, adding that authorities are investigating which bus the individual might have taken.
Kenny later indicated that the NYPD has secured video footage of the man entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal but mentioned that no footage exists of him leaving, leading them to “think he may have boarded a bus.”
The Atlanta Police Department announced on December 6 that it is providing support to the NYPD “as required” in the investigation.
UnitedHealthcare is widely regarded as one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States, and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., ranks among the largest corporations in America.
