Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed on Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan while en route to a company conference. Thompson, 50, was walking toward the New York Hilton Hotel, where UnitedHealthcare was hosting an event, when a gunman opened fire from approximately 20 feet away, striking him multiple times in the chest, according to a police report.
Thompson, dressed in a suit and tie, was heading to the hotel’s ballroom when the shooting occurred. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police reported.
Authorities indicate that the gunman appeared to have been waiting for Thompson’s arrival and fled immediately after the attack. Officials believe this was a targeted shooting, although the motive remains unclear. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Thompson, who took over as the UnitedHealthcare CEO in April 2021, led the healthcare arm of UnitedHealth Group, which ranks fifth on the Fortune 500 list. The shocking incident has left both the company and the wider business community in mourning as they await further details on the investigation.