UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Killed in Targeted Shooting; Suspect Remains at Large
- Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was shot and killed outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what the NYPD described as “a brazen, targeted attack.”
- The gunman reportedly used a firearm equipped with a silencer, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
- Thompson headed UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurance provider in the United States.
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Courtesy: Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what the NYPD has described as “a brazen, targeted attack.”
“I want to be clear: at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated during a press conference held later that day.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” she emphasized, noting that a full investigation is underway.
More than 24 hours after the incident, the gunman remained at large.
Thompson, 50, served as the leader of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the U.S. He was on his way to UnitedHealth Group’s investor meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday at the Hilton, according to the NYPD. The company canceled the event following the tragedy.
Patrol officers responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET reporting a shooting in front of the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Officers arrived two minutes later to find Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and leg, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during the press conference.
Emergency medical services transported Brian Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
Thompson had been staying at The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown, a Marriott-affiliated property on 54th Street, as reported by NBC News.
The gunman arrived at the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson approached the Hilton, Kenny stated. During this time, several people passed by the suspect as he waited.
Before the shooting, the assailant visited a Midtown Starbucks, where he purchased items including a water bottle and two protein bars, later discarded, according to a senior NYC law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
As Thompson walked alone toward the Hilton, the gunman emerged from behind a parked car, stepped onto the sidewalk, and approached him from behind. He fired several rounds, hitting Thompson at least once in the back and once in the right calf, according to Kenny and security footage obtained by NBC News. After the initial shots, the firearm appeared to malfunction before the assailant resumed firing.
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After the shooting, the gunman fled on foot into an alleyway between 54th and 55th Streets, according to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. He then walked west along Avenue of the Americas, where he boarded an e-bike and rode toward Central Park.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the suspect was last seen early this morning on Center Drive in Central Park. Kenny described the gunman as wearing a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a distinctive gray backpack. Security footage from the scene showed the shooter wearing a hooded jacket.
The NYPD recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged 9mm shell casings at the crime scene, Kenny said, adding that they also found a cellphone.
No arrests have been made, and Tisch confirmed that the reward for information in the case has been increased to $10,000.
A source familiar with the investigation told CNBC that the gunman used a firearm with a silencer. Kenny noted that the NYPD is still unable to confirm whether the shooter had a silencer, and the department will continue to investigate.
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A hot dog vendor near the Hilton, present at 6:30 a.m. ET, stated that he didn’t hear any gunshots but noticed a sudden influx of police. A doorman at the Hilton, who began his shift at 7 a.m. ET, mentioned that everything seemed "pretty normal" at the hotel. Both individuals requested to remain anonymous.
Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and their two children.
Paulette Thompson told NBC News that her husband had been receiving threats. She shared that the NYPD informed her that the shooting was a targeted attack.
“Yes, there had been some threats, but I’m not sure about the details—maybe it was a lack of coverage, I don’t know,” she said. “I just know that he mentioned some people had been threatening him.”
She also mentioned that Thompson did not change his travel routines despite the threats.
“I can’t really give a thoughtful response right now,” Paulette Thompson said. “I just found this out, and I’m trying to console my children.”
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UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the United States by revenue, with a market cap of approximately $563 billion. UnitedHealthcare, its insurance division, generated more than $281 billion in revenue last year, accounting for over two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group's total revenue for 2023.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group increased by more than 1% on Wednesday.
In a statement released Wednesday, UnitedHealth Group expressed being "deeply saddened and shocked" by Thompson's passing. The company described him as 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,” the statement read. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
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Earlier on Wednesday, the company canceled its investor event, citing a “medical situation” involving an employee.
“I’m afraid we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” CEO Andrew Witty said during the event, according to a transcript. “As a result, we’ll have to bring today’s event to a close, which I’m sure you’ll understand.”
Thompson had been with UnitedHealth for over 20 years, joining in April 2004 after nearly seven years at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, after leading the insurance unit’s government programs.
Thompson lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and was the valedictorian at the University of Iowa.
He had been facing insider trading allegations.
In May, a firefighters' pension fund in Hollywood, Florida, filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group, Thompson, Witty, and Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley. The suit accused the executives of selling a combined $120 million in company shares before the public disclosure of a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation.
The DOJ’s probe focused on UnitedHealth Group’s 2021 acquisition of Change Healthcare, a company that processes medical claims.
The lawsuit claimed Thompson was aware of the investigation as early as October 2023 and sold shares worth $15.1 million on February 16, less than two weeks before news of the probe became public.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement on Wednesday, saying she had been briefed on the shooting and had instructed state police to offer any necessary assistance to the NYPD in its investigation.
“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Thompson, and we are committed to ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to justice,” she said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz referred to the killing as "horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and healthcare community" in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
UnitedHealth Group is still dealing with the aftermath of a ransomware attack in February that targeted its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims. The attack compromised the protected health information of at least 100 million individuals.