The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in what police said appears to be a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack” outside the New York Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning.
Brian Thompson, 50, was on his way to speak at UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference when the gunman approached from behind and “fired several rounds,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference.
He was struck at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, Tisch said, adding that the gunman was “lying in wait for several minutes.”
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“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” she said.
Security video shows Thompson, dressed in a blue suit, walking down the fairly quiet street. The gunman approaches him from behind and opens fire, it shows.
Thompson stumbles forward as a witness runs to safety. The gunman continues to fire as Thompson falls to the ground, the video shows.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before the shooting and fired at Thompson’s back.
“The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot. It appears that the gun malfunctions as he clears the jam and begins to fire again,” he said.
Three live 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings were found at the scene, as well as a cellphone near the scene.
Kenny reiterated that the shooting appears to have been a targeted attack.
“The motive for this murder is currently unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear the victim was specifically targeted,” he told reporters. “But at this point, we do not know why.”
Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.
His wife, Paulette Thompson, said he had been receiving threats.
“There had been some threats,” she told NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
She said police had told her it appeared the shooting was “a planned attack.”
The shooter fled on foot and then on a rental bike, Tisch said. He was last seen in Central Park. As of Wednesday morning, no arrests had been made, police said. Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
Police said the gunman was wearing a black hoodie and black pants and carrying a gray backpack. It is believed he used a firearm with a silencer, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.
A food cart vendor near the scene told NBC News that he did not hear any gunshots but saw police vehicles and two helicopters in the area.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company, was holding its annual investor conference Wednesday morning in New York City but abruptly ended it because of a “very serious medical situation” with a team member.
The company said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened and shocked.”
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” it said. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
Thompson was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his biography page. He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004.
He previously was CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State. He was also the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
Thompson is survived by his wife and two sons.
Gabriella Rudy, Polly DeFrank, Steve Kopack and Susan Kroll contributed.