By Matt Delaney – The Washington Times – Wednesday, December 4, 2024
A search is underway for the gunman who killed the CEO of the nation’s largest health insurance company outside a Manhattan hotel as the executive was arriving to speak at a conference Wednesday morning.
The unidentified masked gunman waited for Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, to walk past him before opening fire in a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack” at about 6:45 a.m. near the Hilton Hotel in midtown, New York Police Department officials said.
Mr. Thompson, 50, was shot in the back and rushed to a hospital in critical condition, authorities said. He later died from his wounds.
“The motive for this murder is currently unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear the victim was specifically targeted,” Joseph Kenny, the NYPD chief of detectives, said at a press conference. “But at this point, we do not know why.”
Surveillance footage shows the gunman skulking behind Mr. Thompson and firing three shots at the health insurance executive with a silenced firearm.
Mr. Thompson stumbled and appeared to briefly look back at the assailant once the gunfire erupted, the footage showed. The gunman kept firing as Mr. Thompson collapsed to the ground and tried to crawl to safety.
The weapon appeared to jam midway through the attack, but the gunman swiftly fixed the problem and retook aim.
“You learn that in a police academy. I learned it in the FBI Academy. You learn it in the military. There are certain drills that you know instinctively to do as soon as your gun jams,” former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told CNN. “The fact that he was able to clear the gun quickly tells you, at least, that he’s someone who is very familiar with firearms.”
The shooter ran away and then rode off on an electric bike to evade arrest, police said. He was last seen in Central Park.
Police described the gunman as a light-skinned male wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack.
Before the attack, he was spotted at a Starbucks blocks away. It was unclear whether he purchased anything.
“I directed the State Police to provide NYPD with any necessary assistance with the investigation to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Thompson and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
Paulette Thompson, the CEO’s wife, said her husband talked about receiving threats over the phone.
“There had been some threats,” Mrs. Thompson told NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
Mr. Thompson had served as the head of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021.
Before taking on his role, he oversaw the company’s government programs, such as Medicare and Retirement and Community & State.
According to an April report from Crain’s New York Business, the CEO was also one of the company executives being investigated by the Justice Department on suspicion of violating antitrust laws.
On Feb. 16, Mr. Thompson sold shares and exercised stock options worth more than $15 million. Less than two weeks later, the investigation made headlines and stock prices plummeted.
The four executives netted a combined $101.5 million from their stock sales from October 2023 until a Bloomberg report made the probe public on Feb. 27.
The report said the Justice Department is investigating whether UnitedHealth’s acquisitions consolidated its position in some markets in a way that violates antitrust laws.
The company ended its investors conference after the shooting and said it was “deeply saddened and shocked” about Mr. Thompson’s death.
“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” UnitedHealthcare said. “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
Political leaders in Minnesota, from where Mr. Thompson hailed, also shared their condolences.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar called the shooting a “horrifying and shocking act of violence.”
Gov. Tim Walz said Mr. Thompson’s death is “a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota.”
At a press conference, while discussing the state budget, the governor said authorities need to “figure out what was behind this and follow through, making sure someone’s brought to justice.”
