Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, was killed by a masked gunman early Wednesday outside a Hilton hotel in New York City where he was expected to speak to a ballroom full of colleagues, officials said.
Detectives are investigating the possibility that the gunman was lying in wait for Thompson before the shooting.
Thompson, 50, was walking past the Residences Hilton Club on Sixth Ave. near W. 54th St. about 6:45 a.m. when the gunman stormed up and opened fire, cops said.
EMS rushed the victim to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where he died of his wounds.
The gunman ran off and was being sought.
According to preliminary reports, witnesses told police that the gunman, who was dressed in a cream-colored coat and was sporting a backpack, stepped out of an alley before shooting Thompson, who was expected to give a speech at a symposium at the hotel.
Thompson was made chief executive officer for UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his company biography. Prior to this role, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State. Before leading government programs, Thompson served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
Cops are working on the theory that the gunman was waiting in the alley for the victim to pass before shooting him.
No arrests have been made.
Detectives were scouring the area looking for surveillance footage that could help them identify the shooter.
