In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the healthcare industry, Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. The brazen attack, which occurred around 6:40 AM EST, has been described by New York Police Department officials as a “targeted shooting.”
Thompson, who had been at the helm of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was in New York City to attend the company’s annual investor conference. As the health insurance CEO approached the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on West 54th Street, where the event was scheduled to take place, a hooded gunman dressed in black opened fire. According to law enforcement sources, surveillance footage captured the assailant firing multiple shots at Thompson from behind, using a gun equipped with a silencer. The CEO was struck in the chest and leg, and despite emergency responders rushing him to Mount Sinai Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after.
“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,” UnitedHealthCare said in a statement. “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.”
According to law enforcement sources, surveillance footage captured the assailant firing multiple shots at Thompson from behind, using a gun equipped with a silencer1. The CEO was struck in the chest and leg, and despite emergency responders rushing him to Mount Sinai Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after.
The attack appears to have been meticulously planned. Police sources indicate that the gunman seemed to have prior knowledge of Thompson’s schedule and movements. The shooter, described as a skinny man standing about 6-foot-1 and wearing a ski mask, fled the scene on foot before escaping on an electric bicycle into Central Park.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, expressed profound shock and sorrow over Thompson’s death. The tragic event led to the immediate cancellation of the investor conference1.Thompson’s tenure at UnitedHealthcare was marked by significant growth, with the company’s profits increasing from $12 billion in 2021 to over $16 billion last year. He had spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder at the healthcare giant, overseeing its government programs before assuming the role of CEO.The incident has triggered a massive manhunt across New York City, with authorities combing through surveillance footage and appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspect.
Thompson’s tenure at UnitedHealthcare was marked by significant growth, with the company’s profits increasing from $12 billion in 2021 to over $16 billion last year. He had spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder at the healthcare giant, overseeing its government programs before assuming the role of CEO.
The incident has triggered a massive manhunt across New York City, with authorities combing through surveillance footage and appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspect.As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the motive behind this targeted attack on one of the healthcare industry’s most prominent figures. The shooting has not only shocked the business community but has also raised concerns about the safety of high-profile executives.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his condolences, calling the incident “horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and healthcare community in Minnesota,” where UnitedHealth Group is based.
As law enforcement agencies intensify their efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect, the healthcare industry and the broader business community mourn the loss of a leader who played a pivotal role in shaping one of the largest health insurers in the world.
