UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50 was fatally shot early Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan. Authorities are still on the hunt for the person responsible.
UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down by masked man
The attack occurred near the Hilton hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, with witnesses saying Thompson was shot after he exited the hotel.
He was quickly transported to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Police are viewing this as a targeted killing, according to The New York Times.
The suspect reached the scene on foot before waiting around for Thompson to leave the hotel without any security personnel.
Surveillance footage shared on social media shows the assailant trailing Thompson and firing at him from behind, according to The New York Post.
The perpetrator, who was reportedly seen wearing a black face mask and all-black clothing paired with a gray backpack, took off heading east along 6th Avenue on a city e-bike after the shooting.
Authorities said he pedaled the bike into Central Park, seemingly vanishing into the park’s pathways.
Gunman may have had insider knowledge
Per eyewitness reports, the gunman had been waiting for a while outside the hotel and appeared to know the precise door Thompson would use to exit.
When Thompson emerged, the man opened fire from about 20 feet away, shooting him multiple times.
Officials at the NYPD disclosed during a press briefing that the weapon appeared to have a suppressor attached to it, muting the gunfire.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny stated the shooter encountered an issue with the firearm—likely a jam—but managed to resolve it before continuing to fire, displaying a level of familiarity with guns.
Jessica Tisch, New York City Police Commissioner, confirmed during the press conference that this Thompson’s death was a “brazen targeted attack.”
Police have offered a reward of $10,000 for information that leads to the suspect’s capture.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette, disclosed to NBC News that her husband had received multiple threats leading up to the incident.
“There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said during a phone interview.
Potential motive for murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Reports suggest a possible motive may connect to legal issues Thompson faced prior to his assassination.
Last year, the Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a probe into UnitedHealth Group, alleging that its practices were unfairly restricting competition and fostering monopolistic tendencies, with Thompson being named as a target in the inquiry.
Back in May, the City of Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund filed a legal complaint accusing Thompson and other executives of failing to disclose the federal investigation to investors before offloading millions in company stock.
According to records, Thompson sold over 31 percent of his shares, netting $15.1 million, during the months when the federal investigation was allegedly known internally but kept away from the public eye.
Adding to the allegations, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System followed suit by amending their case against Thompson in October—this time seeking a jury trial.
Both complaints underscore claims of insider trading, pointing to leadership at UnitedHealthcare, including Thompson, for their alleged roles in manipulating the market.
Reports from The Wall Street Journal earlier this year revealed federal investigators were interviewing professionals across various healthcare sectors tied to UnitedHealth’s operations.
The probe included scrutiny of Medicare billing practices to determine if doctors associated with UnitedHealth were exaggerating patient illnesses to inflates government reimbursements.
Investigators were said to be evaluating how UnitedHealth’s insurance arm and Optum division collaborated in ways that could stifle competition, including its relationships with physician groups and related assets.
Thompson had held the position of CEO at UnitedHealthcare since 2021, after joining UnitedHealth Group in 2004, according to his company bio.
He was in Manhattan to oversee UnitedHealth Group’s annual Investor Conference at the time of the incident.
