Brian Thompson, CEO of insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was tragically shot on Wednesday morning in Manhattan as reported by local news sources mentioned.
Thompson, aged 50, was shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown where the company was hosting its investor day. According to police sources as reported by the New York Post, Thompson had arrived early at the hotel around 6:40 a.m. where an unidentified attacker wearing a mask, cream-colored jacket, and black and white sneakers allegedly shot him in a targeted attack. The police have not confirmed Thompson’s identity.
Thompson was taken to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound in his chest and was later pronounced dead, as confirmed by the police to Fortune. The shooter fled towards east on Sixth Avenue, and authorities are currently searching for him.
The company suspended its investor day activities around 9:10 a.m., as Bloomberg reported. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty stated, “We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation.”
Serving as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare since 2021, Thompson has been with parent company UnitedHealth Group since 2004 and previously held the position of CFO for various UnitedHealthcare businesses. UnitedHealth Group ranks No. 4 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list and No. 8 on the Fortune Global 500, being the largest healthcare company by revenue in 2023.
UnitedHealthcare has not responded immediately to requests for comment from Fortune.
