Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, was shot and killed yesterday in what police called a targeted attack in Manhattan. The company was holding its annual investor day at the Hilton Hotel. A search for the suspect is underway.
The 50-year-old Thompson was arriving around 6:45 am ET when the suspect, wearing a ski mask and a dark hooded sweatshirt, fired three shots at his back and leg using a handgun before escaping on an e-bike. Police say the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes before the killing. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive as of this writing, but they say Thompson had recently faced several threats. See photos of the suspect here.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest private health insurance provider in the US, serving roughly 50 million customers. Thompson had worked at the company for more than 20 years, becoming CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. Read his bio here.
You may know the killing as “a hit”.