UnitedHealthcare CEO shot and killed in targeted attack
The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group, was shot and killed in what the New York City Police Department (NYPD) are calling a targeted attack.
Brian Thompson, 50, was walking in Midtown Manhattan toward the New York Hilton Hotel, where he was expected to attend his company’s annual investor conference. The suit-and-tie affair was to be held at the hotel’s ballroom Wednesday morning.
A lone gunman, who police said was likely waiting for Thompson for approximately 10 minutes, opened fire when Thompson was roughly 20 feet away, striking him multiple times in the back and chest. According to investigators, the masked shooter fled down an alley, jumped on a parked bicycle and fled the scene.
The incident happened at West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan.
The gunman has yet to be located and their identity remains unknown. Police said the individual may have fled via Central Park.
The attack happened in public, but police did not mention if there were any witnesses. The shooter appeared to use a silencer in an attempt to conceal the murder, police said. The gun was not found at the scene.
Thompson was rushed to Mount Sinai West Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
UnitedHealth Group abruptly ended its investor conference, citing "a very serious medical situation with one of our team members." The company has yet to comment further.
This is a breaking story and an investigation is ongoing. The NYPD is expected to hold a press conference later today.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.