UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot outside Hilton hotel in Midtown in possible targeted attack: sources

The CEO of UnitedHealth was fatally shot in the chest Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown in what police say was a targeted attack.

Brian Thompson, 50, was at the hotel around 6:46 a.m., arriving early for a conference, when a masked man allegedly waiting for him fired at the CEO repeatedly and fled eastbound off 6th Avenue, police sources told The Post. 

Thompson, in critical condition, was rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said. 

Police at the scene of the shooting outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown. Billy Beccerra/NYPost

Officials said no arrests have been made yet and that the investigation is ongoing.

The suspect was described as a white male wearing a cream-colored jacket, black face mask, and black and white sneakers. Officials said he was carrying a gray backpack. 

Witnesses told The Post the suspect had been spotted near the vicinity of the hotel, on 6th Avenue, milling around. 

Sources said the shooter wasn’t a guest at the hotel but it is unclear if he had other business there.

Brian Thompson, 50, was at the hotel around 6:46 a.m. UnitedHealth Group

A bottle of pills at the scene of the shooting. Matthew McDermott

When the suspect spotted Thompson, he began to fire from a distance, striking him multiple times, police sources added. 

The masked man then fled through the Ziegfeld alleyway and hopped on a bike to escape. 

Police are on the hunt for a suspect seen speeding off on a bike after the shooting. Matthew McDermott

Thompson, who had worked with UnitedHealth for the last 20 years, took the role of CEO in 2021. 

He previously served as the company’s head of government programs, including Medicare and retirement.

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds