UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in New York

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group‘s insurance coverage unit, was fatally shot exterior the Hilton resort in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what seems to be “a brazen, focused assault,” the New York Police Division stated.

“I wish to be clear at the moment, each indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, focused assault,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated throughout a information convention Wednesday following the taking pictures.

“This doesn’t look like a random act of violence,” she stated, including that the division is finishing up a full investigation.

Thompson, 50, led UnitedHealthcare, the most important 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 stated. 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 resort at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated throughout the information convention. Officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET to search 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 response to Kenny.

Thompson had been staying at The Luxurious Assortment Lodge Manhattan Midtown, a Marriott-affiliated property positioned on 54th Avenue, in response to NBC Information.

The gunman confirmed up on the location on foot, roughly 5 minutes earlier than Thompson arrived exterior the Hilton, Kenny stated. A number of folks handed him as he waited for Thompson, he added.

As Thompson walked alone towards the Hilton, the shooter stepped onto the sidewalk from behind a automotive 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 best calf, in response to Kenny and safety video obtained by NBC Information. After preliminary pictures, the gun appeared to malfunction earlier than the assailant fired once more.

Following the taking pictures, the gunman fled on foot into an alleyway between 54th and fifty fifth streets, in response to Kenny. He stated the shooter then walked west on Avenue of the Americas, the place he bought onto an e-bike and rode towards Central Park.

Tisch stated the assailant was final seen in Central Park on Middle Drive early this morning. Kenny stated the gunman wore a black face masks, black and white sneakers, and a “very distinctive” grey backpack. The video of the taking pictures confirmed the shooter carrying a hooded jacket.

The NYPD recovered three stay 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings on the scene, Kenny stated. He added that they recovered a cellphone.

No arrests have been made. The NYPD has elevated the reward within the case to $10,000, Tisch famous.

The gunman was described as utilizing a firearm with a silencer, an individual accustomed to the matter informed CNBC.

Kenny stated the NYPD is unable to find out but whether or not the shooter used a silencer. The division will examine that additional, he stated.

A scorching canine vendor close to the Hilton who was current at 6:30 a.m. ET stated 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 stated every part seemed to be “fairly regular” on the resort. Each folks requested to not be named.

Thompson is survived by his spouse, Paulette Thompson, and their two youngsters.

Thompson’s spouse told NBC News that he had been receiving threats. She stated the NYPD informed her it was a deliberate assault.

“Sure, there had been some threats mainly I do not know, a scarcity of protection? I do not know particulars,” she informed NBC Information. “I simply know that he stated there have been some those who had been threatening him.”

She informed 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 informed NBC Information. “I simply discovered this out and I am attempting to console my youngsters. “

UnitedHealth Group is the most important health-care conglomerate in america primarily based 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 stated it was “deeply saddened and shocked on the passing” of Thompson. The corporate known as him a “extremely revered colleague and buddy to all who labored with him.”

“We’re working carefully with the New York Police Division and ask in your persistence and understanding throughout this tough time,” UnitedHealth Group stated. “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 chances are you’ll know we’re coping with very critical medical state of affairs with certainly one of our staff members,” Chief Govt Officer Andrew Witty stated throughout the investor day, in response to a transcript. “And in consequence, I am afraid we’ll must bring to an end the occasion right now, which I am positive you may perceive.”

Thompson had labored for United Well being for simply over 20 years, becoming a member of the corporate in April 2004 after spending almost seven years at PwC, in response to his LinkedIn 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.

He had been going through insider buying and selling allegations.

In Might, a firefighters’ pension fund in Hollywood, Florida, sued United HealthGroup, Thompson, Witty and Govt Chairman Stephen Hemsley. The swimsuit accused the executives of promoting a mixed $120 million in firm shares earlier than a U.S. Division of Justice antitrust investigation was disclosed publicly. 

The DOJ’s probe was associated to UnitedHealth Group’s 2021 acquisition of Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims. 

The lawsuit claimed Thompson knew concerning the investigation as early as October 2023 and offered shares price $15.1 million on Feb. 16, lower than two weeks earlier than information of the probe went public, in response to the grievance.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York stated in a press release Wednesday she was briefed on the taking pictures and directed the state police to offer the 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 stated.

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 post Wednesday on X.

UnitedHealth Group continues to be grappling with the fallout from a ransomware attack 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.

— CNBC’s Ester Bloom and NBC Information’ David Ok. Li contributed to this report.