The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in Manhattan is set to go on as scheduled Wednesday night — following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson just two blocks away.
“Millions of people will be enjoying the tree lighting tonight, among other holiday events, and the NYPD will be out there with them, keeping them safe,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
There will be no lack of NYPD officers stationed around Rockefeller Center, starting just south of the Hilton Hotel in Midtown where Thompson, 50, was executed at close range in the early hours of the morning.
“We will have a massive police presence around Rockefeller Center from 52nd Street all the way down to 47th Street,” Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said Wednesday later adding, “This is a terrible event, but we’re going to go on and people can enjoy the tree lighting.”
The annual tree lighting show will begin at 7 p.m., though the actual lighting of the tree likely will be closer to 10 p.m., Maddrey added.
Assistant Commissioner for Public Information Carlos Nieves told reporters the event is usually well-staffed by NYPD officers.
“Aviation, K9, all that. That’s typical [at the tree lighting]. That’s every year,” Nieves said.
“NYPD always remains at a high level of alert when it comes to events like this, the tree lighting, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, we’re always at a high-level alert. So you will get the K9s, you will get the helicopters, you will get the drones, you will get the specialty units,” he added.
Thompson was shot in the chest around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday by a masked man who was waiting for him outside the Hilton hotel as he headed to a work conference.
He was rushed in critical condition to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
Cops said the shooting was targeted. The alleged killer fled on an electric Citibike into Central Park. He remains on the loose Wednesday afternoon.
“The motive for this murder currently is unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted,” said NYPD’s Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny. “But at this point, we do not know why.”
Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
