A Crime Scene Unit officer images the scene the place CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson, 50, was shot as he entered the New York Hilton early on December 4, 2024 in New York.
Bryan R. Smith | Afp | Getty Pictures
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group‘s insurance coverage unit, was fatally shot outdoors the Hilton lodge in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what seems to be “a brazen, focused assault,” the New York Police Division mentioned.
“I wish to be clear at the moment, each indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, focused assault,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned throughout a information convention Wednesday following the taking pictures.
“This doesn’t look like a random act of violence,” she mentioned, including that the division is finishing up a full investigation.
Thompson, 50, led UnitedHealthcare, the biggest personal well being insurer within the U.S. He was on the best way to UnitedHealth Group’s investor day set for Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET on the Hilton, the NYPD mentioned. The corporate canceled that occasion after the taking pictures.
Patrol officers responded to a 911 name at 6:46 a.m. ET about an individual shot in entrance of the Hilton lodge at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned through the information convention. Officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET to seek out Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his again and leg, he added.
Emergency medical providers introduced Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital the place he was pronounced useless at 7:12 a.m. ET, in accordance with Kenny.
The suspect confirmed up on the location on foot, roughly 5 minutes earlier than Thompson arrived outdoors the Hilton, Kenny mentioned. A number of folks handed him as he waited for Thompson, he added.
As Thompson walked alone towards the Hilton, the suspect stepped onto the sidewalk from behind a automobile and approached Thompson from behind, firing a number of rounds that struck him at the least as soon as within the again and at the least as soon as in the suitable calf, Kenny added. After preliminary pictures, the gun appeared to malfunction earlier than the suspect fired once more.
Following the taking pictures, the suspect fled on foot into an alleyway between 54th and fifty fifth streets, in accordance with Kenny. He mentioned the suspect then walked west on Avenue of the Americas, the place he received onto an e-bike and rode towards Central Park.
Tisch mentioned the suspect was final seen in Central Park on Heart Drive early this morning. Kenny mentioned the suspect wore a lightweight brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face masks, black and white sneakers and a “very distinctive” grey backpack.
No arrests have been made. The NYPD has elevated the reward within the case to $10,000, Tisch famous.
Safety digicam nonetheless photographs exhibiting the shooter reportedly concerned in killing of the CEO of United Healthcare, Brian Thompson, in Midtown Manhattan are displayed on the day of NYPD press convention, in New York Metropolis, US, December 4, 2024.
Mike Segar | Reuters
The suspect within the taking pictures was described as utilizing a firearm with a silencer, an individual aware of the matter instructed CNBC.
Kenny mentioned the NYPD is unable to find out but whether or not the suspect used a silencer. The division will examine that additional, he mentioned.
A scorching canine vendor close to the Hilton who was current at 6:30 a.m. ET mentioned he didn’t hear any gunshots however seen a sudden swarm of police. A Hilton doorman who started his shift at 7 a.m. ET mentioned every little thing gave the impression to be “fairly regular” on the lodge. Each folks requested to not be named.
Cops stand close to the scene the place the CEO of United Healthcare Brian Thompson was reportedly shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, in New York Metropolis, US, December 4, 2024.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
Thompson is survived by his spouse, Paulette Thompson, and their two kids.
Thompson’s spouse instructed NBC Information that he had been receiving threats. She mentioned the NYPD instructed her it was a deliberate assault.
“Sure, there had been some threats principally I do not know, a scarcity of protection? I do not know particulars,” she instructed NBC Information. “I simply know that he mentioned there have been some people who had been threatening him.”
She instructed NBC Information that Thompson didn’t alter any of his journey habits regardless of the threats.
“I am unable to actually give a considerate response proper now,” Paulette Thompson instructed NBC Information. “I simply discovered this out and I am making an attempt to console my kids. “
UnitedHealth Group is the most important health-care conglomerate in the USA based mostly on income and its roughly $563 billion market cap. UnitedHealthcare posted greater than $281 billion in income final yr, making up greater than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group’s annual income for 2023.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group rose greater than 1% on Wednesday.
In a press release Wednesday, UnitedHealth Group mentioned it was “deeply saddened and shocked on the passing” of Thompson. The corporate known as him a “extremely revered colleague and good friend to all who labored with him.”
“We’re working carefully with the New York Police Division and ask on your endurance and understanding throughout this tough time,” UnitedHealth Group mentioned. “Our hearts exit to Brian’s household and all who had been near him.”
Earlier Wednesday, the corporate canceled its investor occasion when it acknowledged a “medical state of affairs” with an worker.
“I am afraid that we – a few of you might know we’re coping with very critical medical state of affairs with certainly one of our crew members,” Chief Govt Officer Andrew Witty mentioned through the investor day, in accordance with a transcript. “And consequently, I am afraid we’ll should bring to a standstill the occasion in the present day, which I am certain you may perceive.”
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare
Courtesy: UnitedHealth Group
Thompson had labored for United Well being for simply over 20 years, becoming a member of the corporate in April 2004 after spending practically seven years at PwC, in accordance with his LinkedIn web page. He stepped in as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving as the highest govt of the insurance coverage unit’s authorities packages.
Thompson was a resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and graduated valedictorian from the College of Iowa.
Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York mentioned in a press release Wednesday she was briefed on the taking pictures and directed the state police to offer NYPD with any crucial assist with the investigation.
“Our hearts are with the household and family members of Mr. Thompson and we’re dedicated to making sure the perpetrator is dropped at justice,” she mentioned.
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota known as the killing “horrifying information and a horrible loss for the enterprise and well being care neighborhood” in a put up Wednesday on X.
UnitedHealth Group continues to be grappling with the fallout from a ransomware assault in February concentrating on its firm, Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims. The assault compromised the protected well being info of at the least 100 million folks
That is breaking information. Please refresh for updates.
— CNBC’s Ester Bloom and NBC Information’ David Ok. Li contributed to this report
