Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan.
Thompson was shot multiple times at 6:46 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown, according to the New York City Police Department. Thompson was then taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.
The suspect was waiting outside the hotel for five minutes before approaching Thompson from behind and firing several rounds at his chest, back, and calf. The suspect fled first on foot and then on an e-bike, heading east on Sixth Avenue wearing a light brown jacket, a gray backpack, black and white sneakers, and a black face mask.
The attack is believed to have been premeditated and preplanned, according to the police. They are still searching for the suspect and believe Thompson was specifically targeted in the attack. The NYPD has issued a $10,000 reward for the perpetrator as the manhunt continues.
Police said the perpetrator was proficient in the use of firearms, as hotel surveillance video shows the gun jammed before the suspect quickly fixed the weapon. Three live 9-millimeter rounds and three shell casings were found at the scene.
During the NYPD press conference Wednesday, police commissioner Jessica Tisch called the killing a “brazen targeted attack.”
A cell phone was found in an alleyway by the hotel, and police have submitted it to forensics for investigation. They will also work with the e-bike company to track the bike’s GPS information.
Thompson was promoted to chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 and had been with the company since 2004. He is based in the company’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, but arrived Monday in New York for UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference. Thompson was scheduled to speak at the conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the nation’s largest corporations and provides pharmacy, insurance, and retirement benefits. In 2023, the company recorded $372 billion in revenue. It was ranked No. 4 on the Fortune 500, employs over 250,000 people across the nation, and serves more than 51 million people worldwide.
Thompson’s net worth is estimated to be at least $42.9 million, according to Wallmine. A large amount of his wealth is from his ownership of UnitedHealth Inc. shares, and as of February 2024, he owned more than 72,000 shares in the company.
Andrew Witty, the chief executive of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare addressed the audience at the conference shortly after the shooting had taken place.
“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation,” Witty said, according to Bloomberg.
Later, the parent company released this 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.”
UnitedHealthcare is a large employer in Minnesota, and state and local leaders have described the murder as devastating.
“This is a shocking and devastating loss for our whole community,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement. “‘Shocking’ is the only word I can find at the moment.”
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“This is a horrifying and shocking act of violence,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said on X. “My thoughts are with Brian Thompson’s family and loved ones and all those working at United Healthcare in Minnesota.”
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) said in a post that the killing is “horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota.
