Early Wednesday, a masked gunman fatally shot Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in a targeted attack outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan. At the time, Thompson was about to address colleagues. Officials report that the assailant shot him from behind.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing the gunman shooting Thompson, 50, in the back and right calf. The NYPD has released images of the suspect holding a pistol and fleeing the scene on a bicycle.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the killing as a targeted murder, ruling out the possibility of a random act of violence.
Video footage revealed the gunman, equipped with a silencer, waiting for Thompson before launching the attack. “He was lying in wait,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who described how the gunman precisely hit Thompson with several shots.
Thompson’s family expressed profound shock and sorrow over the assassination. “We’re still in shock,” said Paulette Reveiz, Thompson’s mother-in-law.
On the morning of the attack, Thompson had just left a nearby hotel and was walking to the Hilton Club for an investor conference. Dressed in a tan coat and black sweatshirt, the assailant emerged from an alley and shot Thompson at close range.
Thompson was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The shooting unfolded in front of a witness, whom detectives are seeking for questioning. The gunman fled the scene via a Citi Bike.
Mayor Eric Adams assured the public that this was a calculated murder, not a random act. He reaffirmed NYPD’s commitment to apprehending the suspect and extended support to UnitedHealthcare.
Despite an attempt to continue the scheduled conference, UnitedHealthcare executives had to cancel it. “We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation,” said Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group.
Thompson has been the CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, overseeing various company divisions. His assassination has left no suspects arrested as police continue to investigate the motive behind this deliberate act.
