Brian Thompsonthe CEO of UnitedHealth GroupThe New York Police Department's Insurance Division was fatally shot Wednesday morning outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan in what seemed to be a “brazen, targeted attack,” the New York Police Department said.
“I want to make it clear at this time that everything indicates that this was a premeditated, planned and targeted attack,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference Wednesday after the shooting.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” she said, adding that the department is conducting a comprehensive investigation.
Thompson, 50, ran UnitedHealthcare, the biggest private health insurer within the United States. He was on his method to UnitedHealth Group's investor day, scheduled for 8 a.m. ET Wednesday on the Hilton, the NYPD said. The company canceled the event after the shooting.
Patrol officers responded at 6:46 a.m. ET to a 911 call a few person shot outside the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief Detective Joseph Kenny said throughout the news conference. When officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET, they found Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and leg, he added.
According to Kenny, emergency responders took Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET.
The suspect showed up on the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived on the Hilton, Kenny said. While he waited for Thompson, several people walked past him, he added.
As Thompson walked alone to the Hilton, The suspect stepped onto the sidewalk According to Kenny and security video obtained by NBC News, he approached Thompson from behind and fired several shots, hitting him a minimum of once within the back and a minimum of once in the suitable calf. After the initial shots, the gun appeared to malfunction before the suspect fired again.
According to Kenny, after the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into an alley between 54th and fifty fifth streets. He said the suspect then walked west on Avenue of the Americas, where he got on an e-bike and rode toward Central Park.
Tisch said the suspect was last seen this morning in Central Park on Center Drive. Kenny said the suspect was wearing a black face mask, black and white sneakers and carrying a “very distinctive” gray backpack. Video of the shooting showed the suspect wearing a hooded jacket.
The NYPD recovered three live 9mm cartridges and three fired 9mm shell casings from the scene, Kenny said. He added that that they had recovered a cell phone.
There were no arrests. The NYPD has increased the reward within the case to $10,000, Tisch noted.
The suspect was described as using a firearm with a silencer within the shooting, an individual acquainted with the matter told CNBC.
Kenny said the NYPD has not yet determined whether the suspect used a silencer. The department will proceed to research, he said.
A hot dog vendor near the Hilton who was present at 6:30 a.m. ET said he didn't hear any shots but noticed a sudden swarm of police. A Hilton doorman who began his shift at 7 a.m. ET said the whole lot seemed “pretty normal” on the hotel. Both people asked to not be named.
In an announcement, a spokesman for New York-based Citi Bike operator Lyft said the corporate was “ready to assist law enforcement in this investigation.”
Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and their two children.
Thompson's wife said NBC News that he had received threats. She said the NYPD told her it was a planned attack.
“Yes, there were some threats, basically I don’t know, lack of reporting? I don’t know any details,” she told NBC News. “All I know is that he said there were some people who threatened him.”
She told NBC News that despite the threats, Thompson hasn't modified any of his travel habits.
“I can't really give a thoughtful answer right now,” Paulette Thompson told NBC News. “I just found this out and I’m trying to comfort my kids.”
The UnitedHealth Group is the biggest healthcare group within the United States when it comes to sales and a market capitalization of around $563 billion. UnitedHealthcare generated greater than $281 billion in revenue last 12 months, accounting for greater than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group's 2023 annual revenue.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group rose greater than 1% on Wednesday.
In an announcement Wednesday, UnitedHealth Group said it was “deeply saddened and shocked by the death” of Thompson. The company described him as a “highly valued colleague and friend to all who have worked with him.”
“We are working closely with the NYPD and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time,” UnitedHealth Group said. “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the corporate canceled its investor event when it discovered a “medical condition” in an worker.
“I am concerned that we are — some of you may know that we are dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” Chief Executive Andrew Witty said throughout the investor day, in line with a transcript. “And that's why I'm afraid we'll have to bring the event to a close today, which I'm sure you'll understand.”
According to him, Thompson worked for United Health for just over 20 years, joining the corporate in April 2004 after spending nearly seven years at PwC LinkedIn page. He joined UnitedHealthcare as CEO in April 2021 after serving as a top executive for the insurance unit's government programs.
Thompson lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and graduated valedictorian from the University of Iowa.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an announcement Wednesday that she had been informed of the shooting and had directed state police to supply the NYPD with any crucial assistance within the investigation.
“Our thoughts are with Mr. Thompson’s family and loved ones and we are committed to ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to justice,” she said.
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota called the killing “terrible news and a terrible loss to the economy and health care” in a report. post Wednesday on X
UnitedHealth Group continues to be coping with the fallout from a February ransomware attack on its medical claims processing company Change Healthcare. The attack compromised the protected health information of a minimum of 100 million people.
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