UnitedHealthcare CEO shot, killed outside Midtown Manhattan hotel; suspect sought

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday morning in what the NYPD said appeared to be a "brazen, targeted attack."

Brian Thompson, 50, was shot shortly before his UnitedHealthcare annual investors meeting. According to the Fortune 500 company’s website, Thompson has served as CEO since April 2021.

Witnesses that spoke with FOX 5 NY said it appeared the suspect had been waiting for hours, even overnight, outside the hotel, possibly targeting the victim. 

"It appears as though this was a targeted murder," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

Midtown shooting events

The shooting happened around 6:45 a.m. near W. 54th St. and 6th Avenue outside New York Hilton Midtown.

According to police, the victim, who was shot in the back and leg, was taken to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect, who was wearing a distinctive grey backpack, is described as a 6-foot tall light skinned man with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a cream-colored jacket with black gloves and a black mask. He fled north on 6th Avenue on an e-bike following the shooting, police said. He was last seen on Center Drive in Central Park.

Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.

Who is Brian Thompson?

Thompson was named the chief executive officer for Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his bio on UnitedHealth Group's website.