The annual Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting security was intensified following the shooting death of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
As of Thursday morning, the suspect was still at large.
The annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree was secured with increased measures on Wednesday evening, following the shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO by a masked gunman outside a nearby hotel earlier in the day.
Jeffrey B. Maddrey, head of the department, announced that there would be a significant police presence, including extra officers, in the subway.
Despite this being a terrible event, people will still enjoy the tree lighting tonight, as he stated.
Wednesday morning, outside the Hilton Hotel, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed at close range.
A masked man in a black hooded jacket and backpack fatally shoots Thompson on a New York City sidewalk before fleeing on a bike, disappearing into Central Park.
The suspect was still at large as of Thursday morning.
Despite the violence, the crowds still gathered for New York City's annual tradition, with 50,000 multicolored lights lighting up the iconic tree to cheers from the crowd.
A 3 million crystal Swarovski star crown adorns the top of the giant Norway spruce, which comes from a small Massachusetts town this year.
Last month, a 74-foot-tall tree was cut down in West Stockbridge and transported to Rockefeller Plaza. On Wednesday night, the tree's long journey to New York came to an end with a ceremony marking its arrival. The center's head gardener had spotted the tree in 2020 and asked its owners if they'd be willing to donate it.
The renowned holiday attraction, situated above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink, will be visible until mid-January. On Christmas Day, the tree will be illuminated for 24 hours.
After the holiday season ends, the tree will be utilized for lumber to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
This report was contributed to by Greg Wehner of Planet Chronicle Digital and The Associated Press.
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