Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead Wednesday outside a popular Midtown hotel on Wednesday morning in a cold-blooded execution, police said.
The horrifying incident unfolded in front of the Hilton Hotel on West 54th Street and 6th Avenue at around 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 4.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police believe the unidentified shooter arrived outside of the hotel just five minutes before Thompson, who was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting at 8 a.m. this morning. The gunman opened fire at least three times, although police say his gun jammed in the process.
“The shooter steps onto the sidewalk from behind the car. He ignores numerous other pedestrians, approaches the victim from behind and shoots him in the back. The shooter then walks towards the victim and continues to shoot,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “The shooter continues to walk westbound on the Avenue of the Americas, where he gets onto an electric Citibike and rides northbound on the Avenue of the Americas towards Central Park, where, at 6:48 a.m., we have the shooter riding his bike into Central Park.”
Officers from the Midtown North Precinct initially responded to the shooting. EMS rushed the victim, suffering from gunshot wounds to both the back and thigh, to Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police units swarmed the area, sealing off the block while canvassing over the hotel’s surveillance footage. At least five shell casings were spotted on the sidewalk next to a patch of blood.
“I can’t believe someone was shot next to my office,” one businessman in the area said.
While police say the motive for the shooting remains unclear, newly appointed Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that she believes the incident to be targeted with the gunman waiting for Thompson and even appearing to know exactly where he would be and at what time.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Commissioner Tisch said. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.”
Police describe the killer as wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a distinctive gray backpack.
Investigators recovered three unused 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings. A cell phone was also found near the scene along Ziegfeld Alley, where the suspect is believed to have fled; it is unclear who the phone belonged to and if it is related to the case.
Chief Kenny told amNewYork Metro that while police are not certain if the gunman is a professional killer, the suspect does seem to be proficient in firearms. Detectives are also looking into whether the shooter used a silencer on his handgun.
Police say they are also trying to identify a witness who was standing next to the victim when he was shot.
Cops say Thompson was in town from his home in Minnesota and staying at another hotel across the street. According to a biography on the company website, he was named chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. He had joined United Health Group in 2004 and held numerous leadership positions prior to his appointment as the company’s CEO, including leading UnitedHealthcare’s government programs, including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. However, police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
