Hours after the shocking daylight assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson near Rockefeller Center, the iconic Christmas tree lighting ceremony proceeded as planned Wednesday evening, albeit under a significantly strengthened security presence. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey B. Maddrey assured the public that a "massive presence" of officers, including extra patrols in the subway system, would be deployed.
A split image juxtaposes the masked gunman who killed Thompson with the festive Rockefeller Christmas tree. (AP Images)
Maddrey acknowledged the gravity of the earlier incident but emphasized the city's determination to carry on with the cherished tradition. "This is a terrible event," he stated, "but people are going to go on and enjoy the tree lighting tonight."
Thompson was fatally shot at close range outside a Hilton Hotel Wednesday morning. Surveillance footage captured the chilling moment when a masked individual, clad in black and carrying a backpack, approached Thompson on the sidewalk and opened fire before escaping on a bicycle into Central Park. The suspect remains at large.
This undated photograph, provided by UnitedHealth Group, shows UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group)
Despite the unsettling events of the day, large crowds gathered for the annual tree lighting. Fifty thousand multicolored lights illuminated the giant Norway spruce from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, topped with a dazzling Swarovski star crown boasting 3 million crystals. The 74-foot tree's arrival marked the culmination of a journey that began in 2020 when it was first identified for this honor.
Security was tight at Rockefeller Center prior to the tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
The spectacular display will remain on view through mid-January, shining brightly for 24 hours on Christmas Day. After the holidays, the tree will be repurposed as lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
Pedestrians underwent security checks upon entering Rockefeller Center for the tree lighting. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
