UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Shot Dead in Targeted Attack in NYC
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a targeted attack in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning, sending shockwaves through the insurance industry and prompting a large-scale manhunt, Al Jazeera reports.
The 58-year-old Thompson was walking towards the New York Hilton Hotel around 6:40 am (11:40 GMT) to attend a company investor meeting when he was approached and shot multiple times by an unknown assailant. Police sources describe the attack as brazen and deliberate.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), Thompson was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. His wife, Paulette Thompson, revealed to NBC News that he had recently mentioned receiving threats, possibly related to insurance coverage disputes, though details remain scarce.
Mayor Eric Adams addressed the incident, stating that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack and assuring the public that the NYPD would apprehend the suspect. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the department’s commitment to bringing the perpetrator to justice.
Surveillance footage obtained by investigators depicts the suspect, described as a white male wearing a grey backpack, approaching Thompson from behind a parked car. The footage shows the suspect firing multiple shots at point-blank range before fleeing the scene on foot and subsequently riding away on an e-bike through Central Park.
The NYPD has released images from the surveillance footage, showing the suspect both pointing what appears to be a handgun and riding the e-bike. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. The crime scene, outside the Hilton on 54th Street, was quickly secured, with police recovering evidence including what appeared to be bullet casings.
Thompson, who had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO since April 2021, led one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, providing care to 148 million people across the US and South America.
