Brian Thompson’s killer finally identified? The suspect used a New Jersey driver’s license to check into the hostel

Authorities suspect the shooter used a B&T Station Six firearm known for its near-silent operation and hand-cycle cartridges. The rare weapon prompted investigators to track down recent sales, including a purchase from a gun shop in Connecticut, sources said.

Authorities are reportedly closing in on identifying the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan, according to sources.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, police released surveillance video showing the suspect at the HI New York City Hostel on West 103rd Street, where he allegedly shared a room with two other people, sources said.

Investigators searched nearby dormitories, sharing an image of the suspect. According to sources, police believe the suspect used a New Jersey driver’s license, not his own, to check into the hostel.

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man wanted in connection with a Dec. 4, 2024, shooting outside the Hilton Hotel, where Thompson was attending a conference. Police called the attack “premeditated and deliberate,” and New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it a “brazen, targeted attack.”

At the scene of the crime, investigators found shell casings with the inscriptions “deny”, “protect” and “reset”. Although the motive remains unclear, police believe the killing was carefully planned.

Authorities suspect the shooter used a B&T Station Six firearm known for its near-silent operation and hand-cycle cartridges. The rare weapon prompted investigators to track down recent sales, including a purchase from a gun shop in Connecticut, sources said.

Thompson, 50, was in New York for an 8 a.m. investor conference. His route was reportedly well known. Surveillance video shows a man who appears to be the suspect leaving a subway station near the Hilton just before the shooting. The suspect allegedly waited until Thompson left his hotel and crossed the street.

At approximately 6:40 a.m., a masked assailant opened fire. When the weapon malfunctioned, he cleared the jam and continued shooting before fleeing the scene on foot. He was later spotted riding his bicycle into Central Park, police said.

In addition to surveillance footage, police found items at the scene, including a water bottle and candy wrappers, believed to be related to the suspect. These items undergo fingerprint and DNA analysis.

The suspect was also spotted on camera hours before the shooting near a public housing complex with what appeared to be an electric bicycle battery. Authorities are investigating whether the bike was pre-set near the crime scene while the suspect was riding the subway to the crime scene.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette, issued a heartfelt statement, describing him as a devoted father and a generous, talented man who “touched many lives”. The couple, who lived separately in Minnesota, had two sons together.

Neighbors remembered Brian Thompson as extremely intelligent, and Paulette as warm and kind. Meanwhile, a reward poster has been put up outside the Hilton Hotel with information about the case as police continue to investigate the high-profile murder.