Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot on Wednesday morning, December 4th, outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan in what authorities have described as a “brazen, targeted attack.”
Police say the suspect, who remains at large, waited for Thompson for several minutes before firing multiple shots. “I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a press conference. “We will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter.”
Thompson, 50, was walking alone toward the Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue to attend UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference scheduled for 8 a.m. He was struck by gunfire at least twice, once in the back and once in the leg, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Emergency responders transported him to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.
The suspect reportedly fired from about 20 feet away, using a firearm that may have been equipped with a silencer. After the shooting, the gunman fled on foot through an alleyway before escaping on an electric bike toward Central Park. The NYPD has described the suspect as wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, and a distinctive gray backpack.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette, revealed that he had been receiving threats before the attack. “Yes, there had been some threats…I don’t know the details,” she told NBC News, adding that her husband did not alter his routines despite the warnings.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, canceled its investor event following the tragedy. In a statement, the company expressed shock and grief, calling Thompson “a highly respected colleague and friend.”
Political leaders expressed outrage over the killing. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar described it as “a horrifying and shocking act of violence,” while New York Governor Kathy Hochul assured full support for the investigation, stating, “We are committed to ensuring the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
