UnitedHealth Group’s CEO, Brian Thompson, tragically lost his life in a targeted shooting early Wednesday morning. According to New York police, Thompson, aged 50, was shot by a masked gunman as he was arriving at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for an investors’ conference.
NYPD officials revealed that the shooter had been lying in wait outside the hotel for several minutes before Thompson arrived. He was staying at a nearby hotel and was shot multiple times from behind just before 6:45 a.m., sustaining injuries to both his back and leg. The suspect fled the scene on an electric Citi Bike, heading towards Central Park, and remains at large.
The police describe the suspect as a light-skinned male wearing a light brown or cream jacket, a black face mask, and black-and-white sneakers, carrying a distinct grey backpack. Authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the gunman’s capture.
Thompson was quickly taken to Roosevelt Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Police characterized the incident as a “brazen, targeted attack,” suggesting it was not a random act of violence. Investigators believe the shooter was skilled with firearms.
Authorities are looking into Thompson’s personal life, interviewing family and friends in Minnesota to understand if anyone might have had a motive. His wife, Paulette Thompson, mentioned in an interview that her husband had received threats prior to the incident.
Brian Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and became the CEO in 2021, leading the company, which is the largest health insurance provider in the United States.
