UnitedHealth investor conference canceled after shooting. Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony to go on as planned. Several people passed gunman before shooting.
Masked suspect at large last seen in Central Park.
Thompson 50 was shot around 6:45 am ET outside Hilton on sixth Avenue before company annual investor conference.
He was moved to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police added the gunman was at large and they were investigating a motive.
Rockefeller Center a few block away a televised event that draws massive crowds.
Police said that event would proceed as planned under heavy security.
The suspect wearing a mask and carrying a gray backpack fled on foot before mounting an electric bike and riding into Central Park. Police added.
Brian Thompson CEO of UNHN insurance unit was killed on Wednesday morning outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in what police detailed as targeted attack by gunman lying in wait for him.
“This does not appear to be random act of violence”
“Every indication is that this was a premeditated pre planned targeted attack”
The suspect wearing a mask and carrying a gray backpack fled on foot before mounting and electric bike and riding into Central Park police added.
New York murder rate climbed after Covid-19 pandemic but has since dropped to pre Covid levels.
This year 347 homicides were recorded in city through Dec.1 compared with 370 in same period of 2023 according to police.
Dave Ricks CEO of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly who spoke at other business conference in New York on Wednesday said Thompson killing was shocking.
He was assassinated in street going to his investor conference.
The shooting happened at outset of New York busy holiday season expected to more than 7.5 million visitors to city according to local tourism bureau.
Heather Higginson a visitor from London staying at Hilton where shooting occured said violence was shocking.
In May a firefighters pension fund in Hollywood Florida sued the company and three executives including Thompson accusing them of selling combined $120 million in company share before US Department of justice antitrust probe was disclosed publicly according to complaint.
The company has grappling with fallout from
massive data hack of its Change Healthcare unit that provide technology for US health provides disrupting medical care for patients and reimbursement to doctors for months.
This does not appear to be random act of violence. New
York City Police Commissioner.
Jessica Tisch said press conference “Every indication is that this was a premeditated pre planned targeted attack”.
The suspect wearing a mask and carrying a gray backpack fled on foot before mounting electric bike and riding into Central Park Police said
The Killing took place hours before city annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center a few blocks away a televised event that draw massive crowds.
Thompson wife Paulette told media he had received threats though she did not know any specifics
“Basically I do not know a lack of coverage” she said
“I do not know details I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him”
United Health is largest U.S health insurer providing benefits to tens of millions of Americans who pay more for healthcare than people in other country.
Thompson have been CEO of UnitedHealthcare a unit of United Health Group since 2021.
The gunman arrived outside the Hilton about five minuted before Thompson and ignored other people walking by.
He shot Thompson in back when he passed NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
“It does appear that victim was specifically targeted but at this point we do not know why” Kenny said
The pistol appeared to fitted with silencer according to surveillance video
At about 9 am ET an hour after United Health conference started Chief Executive Andrew Witty took stage and revealed the program was canceled because of very serious medical situation.
