Brian Thompson Case Files

Brian Robert Thompson

Thompson was born on July 10, 1974 to Pat and Dennis Thompson. Brian Thompson grew up in Jewell, Hamilton County, Iowa. His father, a graduate of Ellsworth Community College and Iowa State University, worked at grain elevators. Brian has one brother who currently resides in Chicago.

A 1993 graduate of South Hamilton High School in Jewell, Thompson was an “outstanding student.” His accomplishments included being an athlete, homecoming king, class president, and valedictorian.

After high school, Thompson moved to Minneapolis to pursue a career in accounting. He joined PwC as a CPA, where he became a manager in auditing and later worked in transaction advisory services.

Brian’s wife, Paulette, was born in Webster City, Iowa. She works as a physical therapist with Park Nicollet Health Services and earned a Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Iowa, where Brian also attended college.

In 2004, Thompson transitioned to UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest Fortune 500 companies, as director of corporate development. Over the years, he climbed the corporate ladder, serving as vice president, chief financial officer for key divisions, and CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement in 2017. By 2019, he was leading the company’s government programs as CEO.

In 2021, Thompson was appointed overall CEO of UnitedHealthcare, overseeing a global workforce of 140,000 employees. In 2022 Thompson helped the UnitedHealthcare to implement AI system and the denial rate of denial had increased to 22.7%.  link

Brian Thompson

Timeline of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

January 6, 2021

  • UnitedHealth announced an agreement to acquire Change Healthcare (“Change”) and integrate it into its existing Optum business.

April 2021

  • Brian Thompson, was appointed CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group.

December 2022

  • Thompson helped the UnitedHealthcare to implement AI system and the denial rate of denial had increased to 22.7%.

2023

  • October 10, 2023, UnitedHealth received notice that the DOJ had launched a “non-public antitrust investigation into the company,”
  • Thompson’s total compensation was $10.2 million, as disclosed by UnitedHealth Group.

February 24, 2022,

  • The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed a lawsuit challenging UnitedHealth’ acquisition of Change. The DOJ alleged that the proposed acquisition would violate antitrust laws because the integration of Change and Optum would give UnitedHealth unparalleled access to information regarding nearly every health insurer, as well as health data on every single American.

September 2022,

  • The DOJ filed antitrust lawsuit against UnitedHealth in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

February 16 2024

  • UnitedHealth Group (UHG), was impacted by a cybersecurity incident in late February that is disrupting health care and billing information systems nationwide by ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group. The attackers deployed ransomware to disrupt operations and exfiltrated vast amounts of sensitive data. The compromised data included patients’ personal information, financial details, and medical records. Incident

February 27, 2024

  • Brian Thompson was aware of the investigation and sold 31% of his shares 11 days before the Wall Street Journal reported the probe in February, which sunk the company’s stock by 5%. Thompson netted $15 million from selling stock.

March 18, 2024

May 14, 2024

  • The Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley and Brian Thompson Lawsuit

November 26, 2024

  • 11:26 AM – UnitedHealth Group announced its annual Investor Conference in New York City, scheduled for December 4, 2024 – 2024-11-26 11:51:03

Timeline of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shooting

December 4, 2024 Brian Thompson, 50, a father of two, was shot at point-blank range near the New York Hilton Midtown on Wednesday morning just before a scheduled investor meeting. The unidentified shooter had been hiding behind a car outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan for about five minutes when Thompson exited

November 24, 2024

Suspect took a Greyhound bus from Atlanta, Georgia, to NY City.

9 p.m. – Surveillance footage shows the suspect getting off the bus in New York 10 days before the killing, he was seen walking through the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.

10:11 p.m. – The suspect gets into a cab that takes him to the vicinity of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, where he stays about half an hour.

11 p.m. – The suspect takes another cab to a hostel at 891 Amsterdam Ave. on the Upper West Side. He then checked into an Upper West Side hostel.

Note: Investigators confirmed to that days before the shooting, the person of interest took a bus that had originated in Atlanta, Georgia, to New York City. It is unclear when the person of interest got on the bus, whether it was in Atlanta, or on another stop along the way.

Shooter Visits Starbucks 6:17 am

November 29 – 30, 2024

Upper West Side hostel

November 29, Suspect checks out of the hostel.

November 30 – The suspect checks back into the hostel on Upper West Side and used a fake New Jersey driver’s license to check back in on November 30.

While in the hostel, he slept in a multi-person room with two other men and wore a mask for the majority of his stay

December 2, 2024

Brian Thompson arrive to NY City

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, arrived in New York City on Monday, December 2, 2024, to attend an annual investors meeting.

December 4, 2024 5:30 – 5:41 AM

Suspect around the vicinity of the New York Hilton Midtown

5:30 a.m. – The suspect leaves the hostel, possibly by bike.

5:41 a.m. – He is seen wandering around the vicinity of the New York Hilton Midtown, on Sixth Avenue between West 53rd and 54th Streets, and goes back and forth for a bit before heading toward a Starbucks.

“We have him wandering around, walking in the vicinity of hotel, walking on 54th Street, walking back and forth,”

December 4, 2024 6:15 AM

Shooter exits train station 6:15 a.m.

6:15 a.m.

The hooded individual, dressed in the same black clothes with a light-colored Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack, as that of a man at the scene, is seen leaving the 57th Street F train station at 6:15am. The suspect proceeds to walk down the east side of Sixth Avenue toward the Hilton Hotel. Video

  • Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack, which the company stopped producing in 2019. The shooter likely bought the bag between 2016 and 2019 or, less likely, bought the bag used from Peak Design’s website

6:17 AM

Shooter – Starbucks 6:17 a.m

The shooter was captured on surveillance footage images in a Starbucks on 6th Ave. The images show the man wearing backpack and a hooded sweatshirt with his face mostly covered.

December 4, 2024, at 6:17 a.m., the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was captured on surveillance footage inside a Starbucks on 6th Avenue, near the New York Hilton Midtown hotel.

  • The suspect, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying a distinctive gray backpack, purchased coffee, water, and granola bars.
  • He discarded the coffee cup and water bottle nearby, items which investigators later recovered and are analyzing for DNA evidence.

6:19 AM

Surveillance video near a deli on West 55th Street

6:19 a.m. – Surveillance video near a deli on West 55th Street appears to show the suspect walking and briefly stopping by a pile of trash.

6:39 AM

Shooter making a phone call outside the hotel.- 6:39 a.m

The shooter arrived at the New York Hilton Hotel, 237 W. 54th St. in Manhattan. Police believe the suspect knew which door Thompson planned to use and the time of his arrival. A video shows the suspect ignoring passersby and making a phone call outside the hotel.

6:44 AM

Brian Thompson – New York Hilton 6:44 a.m.

Brian Thompson walks across the street from hotel to the New York Hilton
The suspect then came at Thompson from behind and shot him in the back.

  • NYPD said that the shooting had been “lying in wait” for several minutes. Surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows the emerging from a behind a car when Brian Thompson arrives.

6:46 a.m.

  • The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot. A woman a few feet from Thompson runs away as It appears the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fire again,
  • Suspect immediately fled the scene “northbound into an alleyway between 54th Street and 55th Street,” before walking up Avenue of the Americas and getting on an bike and riding towards Central Park.
  • The suspect was last seen in Central Park Wednesday morning, according to police.

6:47 AM

Shooter- in Central Park 6:47 a.m.

Suspect last seen riding in Central Park 6:47 a.m.

The suspect was spotted carrying the gray backpack when he opened fire on CEO Brian Thompson. He was still wearing the bag when he fled on a bike and entered Central Park minutes after the shooting.

6:48 AM

Officers arrive on scene 6:48 a.m.

NYPD officers arrive at the scene and find Thompson bleeding on the sidewalk with a gunshot wounds to his back and leg. He was taken to the hospital by EMS.

  • Police recovered “three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings” from the scene
  • It appears that the suspect used a silencer on the gun

A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation told CBS News police believe the suspect used a B&T Station SIX gun to carry out the shooting. Investigators have been visiting gun dealers in Connecticut looking for where the gun was purchased.

6:56 AM – 7:04 AM

Suspect Escape Route

6:56 a.m. – The suspect rides out of the park.

6:58 a.m. – He is seen on the bike at 85th Street and Columbus Avenue. The Shooter was captured on surveillance footage leaving Central Park without his backpack. Police have been searching the park, but the backpack has not been found.

7:00 a.m. – He is no longer on the bike and is heading northbound on 86th Street.

7:04 a.m. – The suspect gets into a cab.

7:12 AM

Thompson pronounced dead 7:12 a.m.

7:12 a.m.

  • Thompson was pronounced dead at the hospital

7:30AM

Thompson pronounced dead 7:12 a.m.

7:30 a.m. – The suspect is seen near the George Washington Bridge and a Port Authority bus terminal off 178th Street.

  • Video shows him entering the station. “We don’t have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus,” LE said.
George Washington Bridge Bus Station in New York

Brian Thompson Murder

Police have released several images of the shooter

Police have released several images of the shooter in which the gunman can be seen wearing a dark-colored jacket with a hood over his head, a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack:

  • Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack, which the company stopped producing in 2019. The shooter likely bought the bag between 2016 and 2019 or, less likely, bought the bag used from Peak Design’s website
Shooter Visits Starbucks 6:17 am

December 5, 2024 7:00 PM

Maple Grove police reported bomb threats against two homes the Thompson family owns

One day after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death, two homes owned by his family close to each other in Maple Grove were the targets of a bomb threat police said were an act of “swatting.”

Police said they received a report of the threat around 7 p.m. Wednesday supposedly targeting the residences that are about a half-mile apart. Police incident reports said the threat was expressed in an email to multiple people, who in turn alerted law enforcement. One home is owned by Thompson and the other by his wife, Paulette Thompson

“No devices or suspicious items were located during the investigation,” according to a statement from police . ”The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax.”

December 5, 2024

Police executed a search warrant Manhattan Valley hostel

December 5, 2024

On Wednesday night, police executed a search warrant at a building on the Upper West Side where the suspect had been seen earlier that day. Surveillance footage showed him entering the building while wearing the distinctive gray backpack identified in the video of the shooting, according to NYPD officials.

  • The searched location is near both the Manhattan Valley Hostel and the Frederick Douglass Housing Project, where surveillance cameras captured the suspect at approximately 5:00 AM on the morning of the shooting.
  • Detectives suspect the individual stayed overnight at the hostel from Tuesday into Wednesday.
  • DNA evidence recovered from the hostel has been sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for analysis.
  • The suspect reportedly used a fake New Jersey ID to book a room at the New York City hostel, paying in cash.
  • Roommates at the hostel said he kept his mask on the entire time, even while eating, only pulling it down to take a bite, the NYPD said.
  • During his stay, he briefly revealed his face during a flirtatious interaction with a clerk, despite otherwise attempting to conceal his identity.

In the days leading up to the shooting, the suspect was captured on surveillance cameras multiple times across the city. Authorities believe the killing was a calculated, targeted attack.

December 6, 2024

Police found Shooters backpack at the Central park.

Police searched trash cans, grates, storm drains and leaf piles in the park and  found a backpack in Central Park in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called “The Ramble.”

Atlanta Police Department said they are assisting the New York City police department “as needed” as part of the investigation into the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

December 7, 2024

NYPD search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

Police divers searched a pond in Central Park, seeking additional evidence in their investigation of the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel earlier this week.

December 7, 2024

New Surveillance Photo

Surveillance Photos: NYPD releases 2 new photos of man sought in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO The photos are the latest in a series released by the NYPD of the individual they say is a person of interest wanted for questioning.

  • The photos are the latest in a series by the NYPD of the same individual wanted for questioning in Wednesday’s killing. The person can be seen in one of the photos through the partition of what appears to be a New York City taxi, wearing a blue medical mask and a black hoodie.
  • The other photo, taken from inside a car, shows the man outside the window walking alongside the vehicle while wearing the same blue mask and a dark-colored puffer jacket with the hood pulled over his head. The NYPD has said investigators have been able to track some of his movements by taxi.

December 9, 2024

Man is being questioned in Pennsylvania in connection with Manhattan CEO killing

9:14 am Police responded to a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a tip that connected him to the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Wednesday

  • The man was found with a gun similar to the one used in the shooting.
  • He was also stopped with a fake ID
  • The NYPD sent detectives to Altoona

Paulette Thompson

Paulette “Pauley” Thompson is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience, practicing at Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is dedicated to empowering patients to take control of their health, aiding them in recovering from injuries and often guiding them to surpass their baseline physical abilities. In her personal life, Paulette enjoys boating, playing the piano, biking, traveling, and spending time with her two sons

Paulette was married to Brian Thompson, the late CEO of UnitedHealthcare. They had been living separately since 2018. Following his passing, Paulette expressed her grief and highlighted Brian’s loving nature and dedication to their family.

Paulette Thompson

Paulette Thompson says “there had been some threats”

Paulette Thompson told NBC News that “there had been some threats” against her husband. A separate source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that here had been threats made against UnitedHealthcare in general and while Thompson was not specifically named as a target the threats mentioned going after high-level executives.

Evidence Collected by Detectives in Brian Thompson Case

Detectives and law enforcement have gathered a variety of physical and circumstantial evidence related to the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Below is a summary of the key evidence collected during the investigation:

Brian Thompson

Crime Scene Evidence:

Surveillance Footage:

  • Multiple surveillance videos captured the suspect’s movements before, during, and after the shooting.

 Video shows the shooter:

  • Wandering around the vicinity of the Hilton hotel.
  • Making a phone call while lying in wait for Thompson.
  • Shooting Thompson and fleeing the scene on a bike.

 Water Bottle:

  • Found near the Starbucks around the corner from the Hilton.
  • Believed to have been purchased by the suspect minutes before the shooting.
  • A fingerprint was lifted from the bottle, but it was smudged.

 Gray Backpack:

  • The shooter was seen carrying a distinctive gray Peak Design Everyday Backpack during the shooting.
  • The backpack was not found immediately but later recovered in Central Park after extensive searches.

 Phone:

  • Found in the alley where the suspect fled after the shooting.
  • Investigators believe it may belong to the shooter.

At the Hostel:

DNA Evidence:

  • Collected from the hostel where the suspect stayed before the shooting.
  • Samples sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for analysis.

Surveillance Footage:

  • The suspect was recorded entering and exiting the hostel on multiple occasions.
  • Used a fake New Jersey ID during check-ins.

From Central Park:

Bike:

  • The suspect’s bike was abandoned in Central Park.
  • Surveillance footage tracked his path into and out of the park.

Trash Searches:

  • Officers searched trash piles, storm drains, and wooded areas in Central Park.
  • Items of interest, including the backpack, were recovered.

Additional Evidence:

Suspect’s Appearance:

  • Surveillance images and videos captured the suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt, black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, and the distinctive gray backpack.

Videos Near a Deli:

  • The suspect was seen placing an unidentified object on a pile of trash minutes before the shooting.

Forensic Analysis

  • Fingerprint Analysis: The smudged print from the water bottle is being analyzed for partial matches.
  • DNA Testing: Samples from the water bottle and the hostel are undergoing testing to identify the suspect.

$50,000 reward offered by the FBI, is being used to track the suspect and bring them to justice. The investigation remains ongoing.