UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday in what police say was a targeted attack.
The 50-year-old executive arrived at the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue around 6:45 a.m. for the company's annual investors' conference when a masked man repeatedly fired at Thompson, police told the New York Post.
The suspect, who fled on foot before riding an e-bike, was reportedly waiting for the target to arrive at the scene. The shooter remains at large.
"It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes and as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf," explained NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a news conference, as quoted by Fox 5 New York.
First responders tried to resuscitate the insurance executive before he was brought to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
In an interview, Thompson's wife, Paulette, revealed her husband had been receiving death threats before the incident.
“I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she told NBC News via phone.
According to police, the suspect is around 6 feet tall, light-skinned, and had a slim build. He was last seen wearing a gray backpack, a cream jacket, black gloves, and a black mask.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the suspected killer.
Thompson had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and was named CEO in 2021. He previously served as the company's government programs CEO and was in charge of seniors and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Brian is survived by his wife Paulette and their two kids.
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