NEW YORK Hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby, police said a gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in a blatant, targeted attack outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was hosting its investor conference on Wednesday. The incident sparked a massive search for the escaping attacker.
According to authorities, 50-year-old Brian Thompson was shot at approximately 6:45 a.m. while he was walking alone from a nearby hotel to the New York Hilton Midtown. According to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the gunman seemed to be waiting for a few minutes before coming up behind Thompson and starting to shoot. A motive had not yet been discovered by the police.
The shooting did not seem to be a random act of violence, Tisch added, adding that despite the fact that many individuals passed the suspect, he seemed to wait for his chosen target.
Investigators have examined surveillance footage that shows a person coming out from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, and then firing several shots from a distance of several feet. Thompson staggers forward and falls to the sidewalk while the gunman keeps shooting, paused by a momentary gun jam. The gunman then passes Thompson and disappears from view.
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, he appears to be skilled with weapons based on the footage, as he was able to rapidly fix the malfunctions.
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is shown in this undated image from UnitedHealth Group. (UnitedHealth Group via AP Photo)AP
According to Tisch, Thompson was shot in the calf and at least once in the back.
According to authorities, the gunman, who was wearing a jacket, a face mask, and a big rucksack, fled on foot through Midtown before riding an e-bike into Central Park a short distance away. Police used dogs, helicopters, and drones to look for the attacker, who was still at large Wednesday afternoon.
According to a statement from UnitedHealth Group Inc., the parent company of the insurer with headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Brian was a well-liked coworker and friend to everyone who worked with him. During this trying time, we kindly request your tolerance and patience while we work closely with the New York Police Department.
A surveillance image of the man pointing what looked to be a gun and another image that seemed to show the same person on a bicycle were featured on a poster that the police released. Police revealed other CCTV images Wednesday afternoon that show he stopped at a neighboring Starbucks just minutes before the shooting. A reward of up to $10,000 was given for information that resulted in an arrest and conviction.
Paulette Thompson, Thompson’s wife, told NBC News that he informed her that he had received threats from certain individuals. Although she lacked specifics, she speculated that the threats might have had to do with problems with insurance coverage.
The head of police in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson resided, Eric Werner, stated that no threats against the executive had been reported to his department.
Tens of thousands of people were expected to assemble for the tree lighting on Wednesday night, and the murder rocked a normally peaceful area of New York City at that hour. Additional protection for the event was pledged by the police.
On weekday mornings, the hotel is frequently packed with office workers and tourists, and it’s only a short stroll from other tourist attractions like the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall. There are numerous surveillance cameras in the area.
New Yorkers are being urged to go about their everyday lives and business as usual, but to exercise caution. Jeffrey Maddrey, the NYPD Chief of Department, stated.
Investigators found a cellphone in the alleyway the shooter escaped through and multiple 9 mm round casings outside the hotel. According to Kenny, they were also looking through Thompson’s social media, interrogating his coworkers at UnitedHealthcare, and inspecting his hotel room.
According to police, the e-bike that the gunman rode into Central Park was provided by CitiBike, the city’s bike-share program. According to a representative for the program’s operator, Lyft, police have not yet gotten in touch with the business.
In order to inform Wall Street of the company’s direction and objectives for the upcoming year, UnitedHealth Group, a major player in the healthcare industry, was hosting its annual meeting with investors. Following Thompson’s passing, the business called off the conference early.
According to a transcript, a firm representative informed guests, “I’m afraid that some of you may know that we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members.” I regret to inform you that we will have to end the event today as a result. You’ll understand, I’m sure.
Thompson had been with the company since 2004 and had been the CEO for over three years. He had two boys.
In addition to managing health insurance coverage for companies and state and federally sponsored Medicaid programs, UnitedHealthcare is the biggest supplier of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States.
On the social media site X, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote that the state is praying for Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare staff.
The Democrat commented, “This is terrible news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota.”
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
