UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in New York

Brian Thompson, CEO of the company UnitedHealth GroupAn insurance agent was fatally shot Wednesday morning outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan in what appeared to be a “brazen, targeted attack,” the New York Police Department said.

“I want to clarify at this point that all indications are that this was a premeditated, premeditated, targeted attack,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference after the shooting Wednesday.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” she said, adding that the department is conducting a full investigation.

Thompson, 50, ran UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the United States. He was on his way to UnitedHealth Group’s investor day scheduled for Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET at the Hilton Hotel, the NYPD said. The company canceled the event after the shooting.

Patrol officers responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET about a person shot outside the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said during a news conference. He added that officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET to find Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to the back and leg.

According to Kenny, EMS took Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET.

The suspect arrived at the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived at the Hilton, Kenney said. He added that several people passed him as he waited for Thompson.

As Thompson walked alone to the Hilton, the suspect stepped onto the sidewalk from the back of the car and approached Thompson from behind, firing multiple rounds that hit him at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, according to Kenney and security video obtained by NBC News. After the initial shots were fired, the gun appeared to malfunction before the suspect fired again.

According to Kenny, after the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into the street between 54th and 55th streets. He said the suspect then headed west on the Avenue of the Americas, where he got on an e-bike and headed toward Central Park.

Tisch said the suspect was last seen in Central Park on Center Drive early this morning. Kenny said the suspect was wearing a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a “very distinctive” gray backpack. Video of the shooting shows the suspect wearing a hooded jacket.

The NYPD found three live 9mm rounds and three spent 9mm casings at the scene, Kenney said. He added that they found a mobile phone.

No arrests have been made. The NYPD has increased the reward in the case to $10,000, Tisch noted.

The suspect was described as using a silenced firearm in the shooting, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.

Kenny said the NYPD could not yet determine whether the suspect used a silencer. He said the department would investigate it further.

A hot dog vendor near the Hilton who was there at 6:30 a.m. ET said he didn’t hear any gunshots but saw a sudden swarm of police. A Hilton doorman who started his shift at 7 a.m. ET said everything seemed “pretty normal” at the hotel. Both people asked not to be named.

Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and their two children.

Thompson’s wife told NBC News that he has received threats. She said the NYPD told her it was a planned attack.

“Yes, there were some threats based on, I don’t know, lack of information? I don’t know the details,” she told NBC News. “All I know is that he said some people threatened him.”

She told NBC News that Thompson hasn’t changed any of his travel habits despite the threats.

“I can’t really give a thoughtful answer right now,” Paulette Thompson told NBC News. “I just found out and I’m trying to comfort my children.”

UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the United States based on revenue and a market cap of approximately $563 billion. UnitedHealthcare generated more than $281 billion in revenue last year, representing more than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group’s annual revenue in 2023.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group rose more than 1% on Wednesday.

In a statement Wednesday, UnitedHealth Group said it was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Thompson’s death. The company called him a “highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.”

“We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time,” UnitedHealth Group said. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the company canceled its investor event after acknowledging a “medical situation” with an employee.

“I’m afraid that we — some of you may know that we have a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” CEO Andrew Whitty said during the investor day, according to a transcript. “And so I’m afraid we’ll have to close the deal today, which I’m sure you’ll understand.”

Thompson had worked at United Health for just over 20 years, joining the company in April 2004 after spending nearly seven years at PwC. LinkedIn page. He took over as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving as the insurance unit’s top government program manager.

Thompson was a resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and a graduate of the University of Iowa.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochula said Wednesday that she was aware of the shooting and ordered state police to provide NYPD with any necessary assistance in the investigation.

“Our hearts go out to Mr Thompson’s family and loved ones and we are committed to ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to justice,” she said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the killing “appalling news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community.” mail Wednesday X.

UnitedHealth Group is still struggling with the fallout from ransomware attack in February, targeting his company, Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims. The attack compromised the protected health information of at least 100 million people.

— CNBC’s Esther Bloom and NBC News’ David K. Li contributed to this report.