The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed outside the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what appeared to be a “premeditated, pre-meditated, targeted attack.” announced the police.
Police Chief Jessica Tisch said in a news conference that Brian Thompson, 50, was on his way to speak at a UnitedHealth Group investor conference when a man with a gun approached him from behind and “fired several shots.” said.
Tisch said he was hit at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, adding that the gunman “waited for several minutes.”
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“Many people passed the suspect, but the suspect appeared to be waiting for his intended target,” she said.
Security video shows Thompson, wearing a blue suit, walking down a fairly quiet street. It is shown that a gunman approached from behind and opened fire.
Thompson staggers forward as witnesses flee to safety. The gunman continued firing as Thompson fell to the ground, video shows.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said the gunman arrived at the scene about five minutes before the shooting and fired a shot into Thompson’s back.
“The gunman then walked toward the victim and continued firing the gun. It appears the gun malfunctioned when it unclogged and began firing again,” he said.
Three live 9mm rounds and three fired 9mm shell casings were found at the scene, as well as a mobile phone near the scene.
Kenney reiterated that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack.
“The motive for this murder is unknown at this time, but based on the evidence we have so far, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted,” he told reporters. “But at this point we don’t know why.”
Thompson, a Minnesota resident, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.
His wife, Paulette Thompson, said she had received threats.
“There have been some threats,” she told NBC News. “Basically I don’t know. Was it because there wasn’t enough coverage? I don’t know the details. All I know is that he said there were some people who were threatening him.”
She said police told her the shooting appeared to be a “planned attack.”
Tisch said the suspect fled on foot and then on a rented bicycle. He was last seen in Central Park. Police said no arrests had been made as of Wednesday morning. Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
Police said the suspect was wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and was carrying a gray backpack. A person familiar with the matter told CNBC that the suspect appears to have used a gun equipped with a silencer.
A food cart vendor near the scene told NBC News that he did not hear any gunshots, but saw a police vehicle and two helicopters at the scene.
Parent company UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual investor conference in New York City on Wednesday morning, but abruptly canceled the meeting after a team member developed a “very serious medical condition.”
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 read. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and everyone close to him.”
Thompson was appointed CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his biography page. He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004.
He previously served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare and Retirement, Community and State. He was also CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
Thompson is survived by his wife and two sons.
Gabriela Rudy, Polly DeFrank, Steve Kopack, and Susan Kroll contributed.
