UnitedHealthcare CEO shot, killed outside NYC hotel in ‘targeted attack’

MIDTOWN – The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday morning in what the NYPD said appeared to be a “brazen, targeted attack.”

JUMP TO: TIMELINE l WHO IS BRIAN THOMPSON?

Brian Thompson, 50, was shot shortly before his UnitedHealthcare annual investors meeting. According to the Fortune 500 company’s website, Thompson has served as CEO since April 2021.

“It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes and as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a Wednesday morning news conference. 

The shooting happened around 6:45 a.m. outside New York Hilton Midtown between W. 53th and W. 54th streets.

Video from FOX 5 NY shows officers performing chest compressions on the injured CEO.

Tisch said many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.

“The shooter steps onto the sidewalk from behind the car, he ignores numerous other pedestrians, approaches the victim from behind and shoots him in the back,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot.”

According to police, Thompson, who was shot in the back and leg, was taken to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect, who was wearing a distinctive gray backpack, is described as a 6-foot tall light-skinned man with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a cream-colored jacket with black gloves, a black mask and black and white sneakers. He fled first on foot, and then on an e-bike. He was last seen earlier this morning in Central Park on Center Drive.

“From watching the video, it does seem like he is proficient in the use of firearms,” Kenny said.

The shooting took place in bustling Midtown Manhattan, just blocks away from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The tree lighting ceremony scheduled for tonight will go on as planned, but visitors should anticipate a massive police presence, the NYPD said.

Thompson was named the chief executive officer for Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his bio on UnitedHealth Group’s website. 

UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc., which employs more than 100,000 people worldwide. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.

Before becoming CEO, Thompson served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State and was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004. 

Thompson was in town for UnitedHealthcare’s 2024 investor conference. According to UnitedHealthcare’s website, the company was set to stream the conference beginning at 8 a.m., but no stream had been shared as of 9:30 a.m. CNBC reports that the conference, which was taking place at the hotel where Thompson was shot, has been canceled.

UnitedHealth Group issued the following statement: “We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

What we don’t know

Although police have said it was a targeted attack, they have not yet released a motive. No persons of interest have been arrested yet.