The Rockefeller Heart Christmas tree lighting in Manhattan is about to go on as scheduled Wednesday evening — following the homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson simply two blocks away.
“Thousands and thousands of individuals shall be having fun with the tree lighting tonight, amongst different vacation occasions, and the NYPD shall be on the market with them, preserving them protected,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated throughout a press convention Wednesday afternoon.
There shall be no lack of NYPD officers stationed round Rockefeller Heart, beginning simply south of the Hilton Lodge in Midtown the place Thompson, 50, was executed at shut vary within the early hours of the morning.
“We could have a large police presence round Rockefeller Heart from 52nd Road all the way in which all the way down to forty seventh Road,” Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey stated Wednesday later including, “This can be a horrible occasion, however we’re going to go on and folks can benefit from the tree lighting.”
The annual tree lighting present will start at 7 p.m., although the precise lighting of the tree probably shall be nearer to 10 p.m., Maddrey added.
Assistant Commissioner for Public Data Carlos Nieves instructed reporters the occasion is often well-staffed by NYPD officers.
“Aviation, K9, all that. That’s typical [at the tree lighting]. That’s yearly,” Nieves stated.
“NYPD all the time stays at a excessive degree of alert in terms of occasions like this, the tree lighting, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, we’re all the time at a high-level alert. So you’ll get the K9s, you’ll get the helicopters, you’ll get the drones, you’ll get the specialty models,” he added.
Thompson was shot within the chest round 6:45 a.m. Wednesday by a masked man who was ready for him exterior the Hilton resort as he headed to a piece convention.
He was rushed in important situation to Mt. Sinai Hospital, the place he was later pronounced useless, police stated.
Cops stated the capturing was focused. The alleged killer fled on an electrical Citibike into Central Park. He stays on the unfastened Wednesday afternoon.
“The motive for this homicide at present is unknown, however primarily based on the proof we have now to this point, it does seem that the sufferer was particularly focused,” stated NYPD’s Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny. “However at this level, we have no idea why.”
Crime Stoppers is providing a $10,000 reward for data.
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