UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Shot Dead in New York

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Groupinsurance unit, was shot and killed outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what appears to be “a brazen and targeted attack,” the New York Police Department said.

“I want to be clear at this point that everything indicates that this is a premeditated, planned and targeted attack,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference Wednesday after the shooting.

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

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

Patrol officers responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET about a person shot in front of the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during the briefing. of press. Officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET and found Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to the back and leg, he added.

Emergency medical services took Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET, according to Kenny.

The suspect arrived at the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived at the Hilton, Kenny said. Several people walked past him as he waited for Thompson, he added.

As Thompson walked alone toward the Hilton, the suspect climbed onto the sidewalk behind a car and approached Thompson from behind, firing several bullets that struck him at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, according to Kenny and the security staff. video obtained by NBC News. After the initial shots, the gun appeared to misfire before the suspect fired again.

After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot toward an alley between 54th and 55th streets, according to Kenny. He said the suspect then walked west along Avenue of the Americas, where he got on an electric bicycle 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 showed the suspect wearing a hooded jacket.

The NYPD recovered three live 9mm bullets and three fired 9mm shell casings at the scene, Kenny said. He added that they recovered a cell phone.

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

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

Kenny said the NYPD cannot yet determine whether the suspect used a silencer. The department will investigate that further, he said.

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

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

Thompson's wife told NBC News that she had been receiving threats. He said the NYPD told him it was a planned attack.

“Yes, there were some threats, basically I don't know, lack of coverage? I don't know the details,” he told NBC News. “I just know that he said there were some people who had been threatening him.”

She told NBC News that Thompson did not alter any of his travel habits despite the threats.

“I can't really give a thoughtful answer at this point,” Paulette Thompson told NBC News. “I just found out about this and I'm trying to comfort my kids.”

UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the United States based on revenue and market capitalization of approximately $563 billion. UnitedHealthcare reported more than $281 billion in revenue last year, representing more than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group's annual revenue by 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 the passing” of Thompson. The company called him “a colleague and friend highly respected by 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 Wednesday, the company canceled its investor event when it acknowledged a “medical situation” with an employee.

“I'm afraid some of you will be aware that we are dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” CEO Andrew Witty said during the investor day, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I'm afraid we'll have to close the event today, which I'm sure you understand.”

Thompson had worked for United Health for just over 20 years and joined the company in April 2004 after spending nearly seven years at PwC, according to his LinkedIn page. He assumed the role of CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving as the insurance unit's top executive for government programs.

Thompson resided in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and graduated with valedictorian from the University of Iowa.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said in a statement Wednesday that she was informed about the shooting and ordered state police to provide the NYPD with all necessary assistance with the investigation.

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

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota called the killing “horrible news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community” in a Wednesday post on X.

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

— CNBC's Ester Bloom and NBC News' David K. Li contributed to this report.