John Jefferson
Inset: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (UnitedHealth Group). Background: The scene where Brian Thompson was shot and killed (WPIX/YouTube).
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare — one of the largest health insurers in the country — was shot and killed in New York City on Wednesday in a targeted attack, according to police officials.
The 50-year-old was gunned down outside the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan while he was walking at around 6:40 a.m., according to the New York Police Department.
Cops tell Law&Crime that Thompson, who was identified by The New York Times, was found outside the Hilton “unconscious and unresponsive” with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was transported to Mount Sinai West in critical condition before being pronounced dead, according to NYPD officials.
A manhunt is currently underway for the gunman, who fled on foot and is described by police sources who spoke to The New York Times as wearing a black face mask, “cream-colored” jacket and gray backpack. The sources say Thompson was heading to UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference and had arrived early at the Hilton to prepare.
“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty told attendees on Wednesday morning, according to Barron’s magazine. “As a result I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today.”
Sources told the Times that the gunman was aware of which door Thompson was going to enter on Wednesday morning and shot him from “mere feet away” before jumping on a bicycle and pedaling away, the paper reports. They described the attack as being targeted.
Thompson, who is a Minnesota resident, was named chief executive officer for UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. He’s been with UnitedHealth Group since 2004 and had previously served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs.
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