Phil McCausland
Reporting from New York City

If you're just joining us, here's what we heard a little earlier from three senior New York City law enforcement officials after the deadly shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare.

• Police believe the attack was "targeted" and that "the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes" for Thompson before firing off multiple shots
• Officials say he was shot in the back and the leg, though earlier reports suggested he was shot in the chest, they do not yet have a potential motive
• The gunman fled by foot and then by an electric bike, he was last seen in Central Park this morning and police are now offering up to $10,000 for information on the shooting
• The commissioner Jessica Tisch, says NYPD "will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter"
• A "massive police presence" will remain in Midtown Manhattan, as they encouraged New Yorkers to remain alert, but continue to go about their routines normally

The parent company of UnitedHealthcare - where Brian Thompson was CEO - has released a statement saying it is "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague".

The UnitedHealth Group adds that "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him".

"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.”

"The police were here in seconds," says one man who was in Midtown Manhattan when the shooting occured.

Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Christian Diaz adds "it's pretty scary".

He says he could hear the gunfire from the nearby University Club Hotel where he works.

When asked about the manhunt, police say they are hunting for the suspect using drones and canine units.

They advise New Yorkers to remain alert, but there's no specific advise to stay away from Central Park or other areas.

Officials are emphasising that the suspect has a very distinctive grey backpack which officers are looking out for.

A tree lighting event tonight in the area will also continue to go ahead, police say, adding there will be a "massive police presence" at Rockefeller Center as well as additional police officers on the subway.

We've just heard now hearing from Kenny's colleague.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from New York City

Image source, Reuters

The New York Police Department just concluded its press conference.

We heard from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny and Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey.

Stick with us as we continue to bring you the latest.

Kenny says Brian Thompson was walking alone from his hotel and did not have a security detail.

The police say they're investigating whether Thompson was being threatened or targeted prior to the shooting.

Image source, Reuters

There's every indication that this was a pre-meditated targeted attack, the NYPD says.

The chief of detectives goes on to say that the motive was unknown, adding that the police force are in touch with his family.

When asked if they believe the shooter was "proficient" in using a gun, chief of detectives Kenny, says there is "no way of knowing that". But he adds, from watching video footage it "seems like" he was.

Kenny says the suspect is a light-skinned male, who was wearing a grey backpack, a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a white face mask and black-and-white sneakers.

He arrived at the scene five minutes before Thompson, and appeared to pick him out specifically, ignoring other pedestrians nearby.

After shooting Thompson once, the gun jammed. The suspect cleared the jam and shot again. He fled on foot into an alleyway, and eventually hopped on to an electric city bike which he rode into Central Park.

Image source, Reuters

NYPD's Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny continues the conference, he says that at 06:46 EDT officers responded to a call of a person shot outside the Hilton hotel.

They found Brian Thompson on the sidewalk with "gunshot wounds to his back and his legs". He was pronounced dead at 07:12 EDT.

The suspect fled, she says, "first on foot, then on e-bike" and was last seen in Central Park this morning.

Officers are asking the public for help, and asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers.

They are now increasing the reward to $10,000.

More now from the news conference, as the NYPD commissioner, Jessica Tisch, says the victim was shot in the back and leg.

He was then taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Image source, AP

The police conference has just begun and we're hearing from the New York Police Department that this was a "brazen" and "targeted attack".

The attack "does not appear to be a random act of violence" and the suspect is lying in wait.

Image source, US Pool

We're expecting to hear from the New York Police Department shortly, after the head of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhatten.

You can watch the news conference live at the top of this page, and we'll bring you the latest updates from them as we get it.

We're expecting to hear from the New York Police department in the next few minutes, which you can follow along by clicking watch live at the top of this page.

If you're just joining us here's what you need to know:

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead.

The New York Police Department says that at around 06:40 EDT this morning officers were called to reports of a male who had been shot.

"Upon arrival, officers observed a 50-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the chest."

It says emergency care teams responded and transported him to Mount Sinai West hospital in "critical condition, where he was later pronounced deceased".

A suspect fled the scene and remains at large, and the "investigation is active and ongoing", it says. According to police, Thompson appeared to be targeted in the attack, with the suspect waiting for him outside wearing a ski mask and cream jacket.

Investigators say they have video footage of the shooting, but they did not know the suspect's motive. Nothing was taken from the victim, they add.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from New York City

A manhunt in New York City may be complicated by the city's massive transportation and patchwork surveillance system.

The New York Police Department will be relying on manpower, as one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the US, to search the subway system and the streets from the ground and the air.

But it will also probably depend on its access to surveillance systems, including the Domain Awareness System - the largest digital surveillance system in the world that was developed by the NYPD and Microsoft. The system is considered a crime-fighting and counterterrorism tool that connects a network of more than 18,000 cameras, license plate readers and radiogical sensors.

The law enforcement agency is also known to use facial recognition systems, which local activists have critcised and has led to litigation.

Facial recognition could be problematic initially, however, as the gunman was wearing a mask when he fled the scene.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson "horrific" and "targeted" in a statement just moments ago.

She said that she had "directed the State Police to provide NYPD with any necessary assistance with the investigation to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers".

"Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Thompson and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrator is brought to justice," the governor added.

Image source, EPA

UnitedHealthcare is the largest health care company by revenue in the US, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

The parent company, UnitedHealth group, was founded in the 1970s. In 2023, the company's net earnings were $22.3bn.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare health insurance plans in the country. It also manages health insurance for companies, as well as state-funded and federally funded Medicare.

The company employs around 440,000 people worldwide.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from New York City

Image source, Getty Images

There is particular shock over this attack because of the site of the attack.

The Hilton hotel in Midtown is mere blocks from Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art and other tourist-heavy places in New York City.

And the hotel serves as a home for that tourism. It regularly houses numerous conferences, families visiting for the holidays, and even school groups.

I know the hotel well. I stayed at the hotel with my Model United Nations group as a high school student in one of my first visits to New York, and I've returned several times since.

All that to stay, it's a place with heavy foot traffic, with a lot of police, security and certainly many witnesses. That the shooter chose this location is quite bold and makes Brian Thompson's death all the more distressing.

Image source, Reuters

Former Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the news of Thompson's death "horrifying".

UnitedHealthcare is based in Minnesota.

"This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota," Walz wrote on social media. "Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team."