On Wednesday morning, the chief executive of UnitedHealth's insurance division was shot to death outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan just hours before an investor conference.
What happened?
The New York Police Department confirmed that a 50-year-old man was shot around 6:40 a.m. ET outside the Hilton on Sixth Avenue. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Although the NYPD has not officially released the identity, multiple media outlets identified the victim as Thompson, a 20-year veteran of the Minneotsa-based UnitedHealth Group.
The witnesses have reported seeing a masked suspect who was running away from the scene on foot, wearing a cream-colored jacket and carrying a gray backpack. The attack seems to be targeted, and reports suggest that the gunman had been waiting in the area for some time before Thompson's arrival.
It happened just hours before UnitedHealth's highly anticipated investor conference in Manhattan. The event was canceled an hour after it began. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty addressed the attendees, saying:
"We're dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I'm afraid we're going to have to bring to a close the event today,"
The company has remained silent so far regarding the incident.
Police tape blocked off the area outside the Hilton Hotel on 54th Street. Bullet casings were marked with plastic cups, and first responders' blue gloves littered the scene.
Christian Diaz works at a nearby hotel. He said he was on his way to work when he heard the gunshots:
"The police were here in seconds. It's New York. It's not normal here at 7 in the morning, but it's pretty scary."
About Brian Thompson
Brian Thompson served UnitedHealth Group since 2004 in multiple key positions and was most recently named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. Described as being without pretenses, he was one of the most respected professionals within the healthcare industry.
CEO of healthcare research nonprofit 46brooklyn Antonio Ciaccia reflected on Thompson's life:
"Sometimes you meet a lot of fake people in these corporate environments; he certainly didn't ever give me the impression of being one of them. He was a genuinely thoughtful and respectable guy."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz voiced his condolences, terming it "horrifying news" and a "terrible loss" for the state and the healthcare community.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in America, covering millions of Americans. The company recently suffered setbacks as consumers have shown frustration regarding the system of healthcare while also losing millions through services for months after a major cyberattack earlier this year.