Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was tragically killed in a shooting outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. The New York Police Department has labeled the incident as a “brazen, targeted attack.”
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed during a press conference that the shooting appeared to be a planned and deliberate act. She stated, “At this time, all evidence points to a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.” She further added that it did not seem to be a random act of violence and assured that a full investigation was underway.
Thompson, 50, had been on his way to UnitedHealth Group’s investor event, scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. ET at the Hilton. Following the shooting, the event was canceled. The NYPD received a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET reporting a shooting outside the Hilton at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Officers arrived shortly after and found Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and leg.
He was transported to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was declared dead at 7:12 a.m. ET. Thompson had been staying at The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown, a Marriott-affiliated property located on 54th Street.
According to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, the gunman arrived on foot about five minutes before Thompson and waited among a crowd of people. As Thompson walked toward the hotel, the shooter approached him from behind and fired several shots, striking him in the back and leg. Security footage revealed the assailant’s weapon malfunctioned briefly before he fired again.
After the shooting, the gunman fled on foot into an alley between 54th and 55th Streets, then rode an e-bike toward Central Park. He was last seen on Center Drive in Central Park. The assailant was described as wearing a black face mask, distinctive gray backpack, and black-and-white sneakers, with a hooded jacket visible in security footage.
Police recovered three live 9 mm rounds, three discharged 9 mm shell casings, and a cellphone from the scene. Although no arrests have been made, the NYPD has raised the reward for information to $10,000.
A witness familiar with the investigation told CNBC that the gunman used a firearm with a silencer, though the NYPD has not confirmed this detail yet. Further investigation will be carried out.
A hot dog vendor near the Hilton, present at 6:30 a.m. ET, reported not hearing any gunshots but noticing a sudden swarm of police activity. A Hilton doorman, beginning his shift at 7 a.m., mentioned that everything appeared to be normal at the hotel at the time. Both individuals requested to remain anonymous.
Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette, and their two children. In a statement to NBC News, Paulette confirmed that her husband had received threats in the past, and the NYPD informed her that the shooting was a targeted attack. She revealed that Thompson had not altered his travel habits despite the threats.
UnitedHealth Group expressed deep sorrow over Thompson’s death, calling him a “highly respected colleague and friend.” The company also canceled the investor event scheduled for that morning due to the tragedy.
Thompson, who had been with UnitedHealth for over 20 years, took the role of CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, after leading the company’s government programs division. Before joining UnitedHealth, he spent nearly seven years at PwC.
In May, Thompson was named in a lawsuit accusing him of insider trading. The suit alleged that he and other executives sold $120 million worth of shares before news broke about a Department of Justice investigation into UnitedHealth’s 2021 acquisition of Change Healthcare.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul offered condolences to Thompson’s family and assured that the state police would assist the NYPD in the investigation. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also expressed his sorrow, calling it a “terrible loss” for both the business and healthcare communities.
UnitedHealth Group is also reeling from the impact of a ransomware attack earlier this year, which affected its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, compromising the personal health information of over 100 million people.
