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 Photos
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group‘s insurance coverage unit, was fatally shot exterior 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 presently, each indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, focused assault,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned throughout a information convention Wednesday following the capturing.
“This doesn’t seem 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 way in which 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 capturing.
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 throughout 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 lifeless at 7:12 a.m. ET, in keeping with Kenny.
The suspect confirmed up on the location on foot, roughly 5 minutes earlier than Thompson arrived exterior 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 automotive and approached Thompson from behind, firing a number of rounds that struck him no less than as soon as within the again and no less than as soon as in the proper calf, Kenny added. After preliminary photographs, the gun appeared to malfunction earlier than the suspect fired once more.
Following the capturing, the suspect fled on foot into an alleyway between 54th and fifty fifth streets, in keeping with Kenny. He mentioned the suspect then walked west on Avenue of the Americas, the place he acquired onto an e-bike and rode towards Central Park.
Tisch mentioned the suspect was final seen in Central Park on Middle 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.
The NYPD recovered three reside 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings on the scene, Kenny mentioned. 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.
Safety digicam nonetheless pictures displaying 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 capturing 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 sizzling 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 all the pieces gave the impression to be “fairly regular” on the lodge. Each folks requested to not be named.
In an announcement, a spokesperson for New York Citi Bike-operator Lyft mentioned the corporate stands “prepared to help legislation enforcement with this investigation.”
Law enforcement officials 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 youngsters.
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 mainly 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 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 12 months, 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 an announcement 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 to your endurance and understanding throughout this troublesome 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 scenario” with an worker.
“I am afraid that we – a few of you might know we’re coping with very critical medical scenario with considered one of our group members,” Chief Govt Officer Andrew Witty mentioned throughout the investor day, in keeping with a transcript. “And because of this, I am afraid we will must bring to a standstill the occasion at present, 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 almost seven years at PwC, in keeping with his LinkedIn web page. He stepped in as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving as the highest government 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 an announcement Wednesday she was briefed on the capturing and directed the state police to supply the NYPD with any essential 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 group” in a publish 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 data of no less than 100 million folks.
— CNBC’s Ester Bloom and NBC Information’ David Okay. Li contributed to this report.
