Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth’s (UNH.N) insurance unit, was killed Wednesday morning outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in what police called a targeted attack. The shooting occurred at 6:45 a.m. ET near the Hilton on Sixth Avenue, just before UnitedHealth’s annual investor conference. Thompson, 50, was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
Police described the attack as premeditated. Surveillance footage showed the masked gunman, carrying a gray backpack, waiting five minutes for Thompson before shooting him in the back. The suspect fled on foot, later using an electric bike to escape into Central Park. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the pistol may have been equipped with a silencer.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette, revealed he had received unspecified threats, possibly linked to insurance disputes. The motive remains unclear. UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. health insurer, has faced challenges, including a major data breach that disrupted care and reimbursements.
Thompson joined UnitedHealth in 2004 and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021. Colleagues described him as a talented leader with a bright future. The company canceled its conference following the incident and removed executive photos from its website.
The shooting, in a busy tourist area near Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree lighting event, shocked locals and visitors alike. Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, called it an assassination. Heather Higginson, a visitor from London, expressed dismay at the violence during the holiday season.
New York City’s homicide rate has declined recently, with 347 cases reported through Dec. 1, compared to 370 in the same period last year.
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