‘Brazen’: Hunt for shooter after top executive gunned down
The CEO of one of America’s biggest companies has been gunned down in a “brazen targeted attack” outside the company’s annual conference in New York.
Police are hunting a gunman who was lying in wait outside a midtown Manhattan hotel before approaching Brian Thompson and shooting him in the back.
The victim was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, part of America’s largest insurance company and the country’s fourth-largest company as ranked by revenue.
The suspect, wearing a mask and carrying a grey backpack, fled on foot before getting on an electric bike and riding into Central Park, police said.
The shooting occurred about 6.45am Wednesday (local time) outside the Hilton on Sixth Avenue, where the company’s annual investor conference was about get under way.
Thompson was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
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“Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”
Brian Thompson was killed in a ‘targeted’ attack outside a New York hotel. Photo: United Health Group
UnitedHealth Group said Thompson was a highly respected colleague and friend to 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,” it said.
“Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
UnitedHealthcare is the largest US health insurer, providing benefits to tens of millions of people, who pay more for healthcare than in any other country.
New York police have released photos of the suspect. Photo: NYPD
Video showed the gunman arrived outside the Hilton about five minutes before Thompson.
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He ignored other people walking by, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
When Thompson approached the hotel, the gunman shot him in the back with a pistol and then continued firing, even after his gun appeared to jam.
“Based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted but at this point we do not know why,” Kenny said.
The shooting happened shortly before the scheduled investor conference at the Hilton.
Outside the hotel in midtown Manhattan where the shooting occurred. Photo: AAP
UnitedHealth Group Chief Executive Andrew Witty took the stage about an hour after the event started to announce the rest of the program would be cancelled.
“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,” he said.
Police tape blocked off the area on 54th Street outside the Hilton on Wednesday morning. Blue plastic gloves were strewn about and plastic cups appeared to mark the location of bullet casings.
“The police were here in seconds. It’s New York. It’s not normal here at seven in the morning but it’s pretty scary,” said Christian Diaz, who said he heard the gunfire from the nearby University Club Hotel where he works.
Police said the shooting would not affect the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Centre, a few blocks from the Hilton. It draws large crowds of tourists and was to be held in a televised event on Wednesday night.
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in April 2021 after working at the company since 2004 in several departments, according to its website.
“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,” said Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of healthcare research non-profit 46brooklyn, who knew Thompson.
“He was a genuinely thoughtful and respectable guy.”
– with AAP
