NYPD Boosts Security at Rockefeller Tree Lighting

The NYPD announced a significant police presence around Rockefeller Center for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event, set to begin tonight at 7 p.m., in response to the morning shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was fatally shot in a targeted attack near the Midtown Hilton Hotel, with the shooter reportedly fleeing on an e-bike and entering Central Park. NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey reassured the public that the event would proceed as planned, emphasizing safety measures including plainclothes officers and strategic response units deployed along the event route from 52nd to 47th Street. Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the department's commitment to ensuring the safety of the millions expected to attend. The NYPD is actively investigating the shooting, offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest, and has urged the public to report any suspicious activity. Authorities believe the shooting was premeditated, although the motive and potential additional targets remain unclear.