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Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside of a Hilton hotel in Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what appears to be a targeted attack, the New York City Police Department said.
Officers responded to a 911 call of a shooting outside the hotel at around 6:46 a.m. and found Thompson, 50, on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and his leg, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference later on Wednesday. (An earlier version of this post stated Thompson had been shot in the chest, citing an NYPD spokesperson.) Thompson was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said the shooter appeared to have been lying in wait for Thompson. According to security footage, the gunman approached Thompson from behind and fired several rounds at him, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. The shooter fled on foot and later boarded an electric Citibike and rode into Central Park.
“The motive for this murder currently is unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted, but at this point we do not know why,” Kenny said. “This does not appear to be a random act of violence.”
No arrests have been made. Police have asked the public to help identify the gunman, offering a $10,000 reward for information. Police described the shooter as a “light-skinned male” wearing a “light brown or cream-colored jacket,” black face mask, and a “very distinctive” grey backpack.
A cell phone was recovered at the scene. Police said the phone will be processed forensically.
Thompson, who resided in Minnesota, arrived in New York City on Monday for an investor conference, where he was expected to speak. Police said he appeared to be heading to the conference when he was shot.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News in a phone call that he had been receiving threats.
“There had been some threats,” she said. “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.”
UnitedHealth Group was scheduled to host an investor day at the hotel on Wednesday. The event has since been canceled, CNBC reported. At the event on Wednesday morning, the company did not confirm the shooting but staff referred to a “very serious medical situation with one of our team members” as the reason for the closure, according to a transcript of the remarks seen by CNBC.
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in April 2021, according to his biography on the company website. He joined UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, in 2004. He held several leadership roles at the company before being named CEO.
Police said they do not expect the shooting to affect the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, a massive event that attracts thousands of people, on Wednesday evening. Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said the NYPD will have a large presence across several blocks in the area — as it typically does for the annual tree lighting — as well as in the subway.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.