New photos of Brian Thompson's alleged killer released, resemblance to Timothée Chalamet noted

NYPD is using facial recognition technology and cryptic bullet casings to track the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO.

Police in New York have released two images of a man without a mask who is being sought for questioning in connection to the murder of a healthcare executive. Brian Thompson, 50, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in the back on Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan.  

The assailant fled the scene without taking any of Thompson's personal items, leading authorities to believe the murder was premeditated. Investigators are also utilizing facial recognition software and analyzing bullet casings that contain cryptic inscriptions in their search for the suspect. The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed.  

The shooting occurred at approximately 06:45 EST (11:45 GMT) in a busy area of Manhattan near Times Square and Central Park. Thompson had planned to speak at an investor event later that day.  

According to authorities, the suspect, who was dressed in a black face mask and a light brown or cream jacket, seemed to have been waiting for Thompson for about five minutes outside the Hilton, where he was expected to appear.  

Thompson, who had arrived on foot, was shot in the back and leg, and was pronounced dead about half an hour later at a nearby hospital.  

Joseph Kenny, Chief of Detectives for the NYPD, stated that the suspect’s firearm appeared to jam, but the assailant was able to quickly resolve the issue and continue shooting.  

CCTV footage reportedly shows the gunman attaching a suppressor, also referred to as a silencer, to his pistol, as confirmed by BBC Verify.  

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is a former NYPD officer, expressed surprise, saying, "I have never seen a silencer before. That was really something shocking to us all."  

Authorities believe the weapon used was a BT Station Six 9, a firearm said to be connected to pistols used by Allied special operations forces during World War II.  

Police have visited gun stores in Connecticut in an effort to trace the weapon's point of sale.  

After the incident, video footage showed the suspect fleeing the scene on foot. Initially, officials stated that the suspect had used a Citi Bike, a service operated by Lyft.  

However, Lyft later clarified that the NYPD informed them no Citi Bike had been involved in the escape, according to CBS News, a BBC partner.  

Newly released photos of the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson prompted online comments, with some noting a striking resemblance to actors Timothée Chalamet and Jake Gyllenhaal.

“The United Healthcare CEO killer is …. Timothee Chalamet??” a commenter wrote on X — as another joked, “Did Timothee Chalamet kill the United Healthcare CEO?”