UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed by a masked attacker outside Manhattan’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday.
The shooting unfolded around 6:45am in Midtown, just hours before New Yorkers gather in the neighborhood for the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.
Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in the chest in a possibly targeted attack by a masked man, who then fled down 6th Avenue and is being sought by police, sources told the New York Post.
The CEO was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, and was later pronounced dead.
Thompson, who was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in 2021 and earned a reported $10 million a year, was slated to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Hotel soon after the shooting.
According to a release from United Healthcare on Tuesday, Thompson was set to speak about the company’s hugely profitable 2025 financial outlook, including announcing expected revenues upwards of $450 billion.
The suspect was described as a white male wearing a cream-colored jacket, black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a grey backpack.
Witnesses told the Post that the suspected gunman was seen waiting outside the hotel before the shooting, and was not a guest at the hotel.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside Manhattan’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday
A huge police presence descended on the scene Wednesday morning. The NYPD has not yet released a motive
Thompson was fatally shot in the chest at 6:45am on the streets of Manhattan
The CEO was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, and was later pronounced dead
Sources told the New York Times that Thompson had arrived at the hotel early to prepare for his presentation.
The gunman apparently knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from, and gunned him down from several feet away.
The suspect, who remains at large, ran from the scene before jumping on a bicycle, witnesses said.
Witness Amar Abdelmula, a driver, told Pix11: ‘I wasn’t paying attention and then I heard the shot. It was silent gun, black gun, saw him after he shot him and was running across the street. I tried take a picture, but too far away, not clear.
”I was shocked. First time I see crime in front of me,’ he added. ‘I was afraid he shoot me too, my car, I saw everything.’
A huge police presence descended on the scene near W. 54th St. and 6th Avenue Wednesday morning. The NYPD has not yet released a motive.
Officials said hours after the shooting that they have made no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
CEO of parent company United Healthgroup Andrew Witty reportedly halted a meeting at the Hilton Hotel just after 8am upon hearing of the shooting.
He told attendees: ‘We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members. As a result, I’m afraid, we’re going to have to bring to a close the event.’
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in 2021 and earned a reported $10 million a year. He is pictured in 2022 with 2024 Democratic nominee for Vice-President Tim Walz
Thompson lived in this $1.5 million mansion with his wife and children in Minnesota, and was in New York to give a presentation on United Healthcare’s 2025 financial outlook
United is the biggest health insurer by market share in America. The company has been the subject of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying care for patients.
The company made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which cost $872 million.
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