Brian Thompson
By Shankar Raj*
New York: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of pharma giant UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was shot dead in midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, morning as he was going into the Hilton Hotel to attend a conference. The police called it a ‘targeted attack’.
In video footage, the gunman was seen waiting for Thompson outside the hotel. As Thompson moved towards the hotel, the gunman followed him and shot him in the back. The footage shows Thompson turning towards the gunman before collapsing.
The gunman then fled on foot through an alley and then on a bicycle. Detectives believe the shooter operated in a way that suggested he was an experienced marksman.
The words “delay” and “depose” were found on a live round and shell casing, law enforcement sources said. Authorities also found a phone and bottle of water that may have been dropped by the gunman as he ran through the alley.
The shooter’s motive is unclear. But a source told CNN that UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, America’s largest insurance company, was aware of concerning threats against its high-level executives.
Later, the police searched a hostel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where they believe the suspect may have been staying.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premeditated, targeted attack,” the New York Police Department stated in a tweet.
Keith Powers, a New York City Council member said the attack on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was “scary” for New Yorkers, and that authorities were working to apprehend the suspect heading into the holiday period.
“It’s scary because it really feels like it was a plotted-out attempt to, and obviously, to take someone’s life,” Powers said.
“We do have footage, we have footage from Starbucks. We have footage from outside the hotel. So I think, like I said NYPD [New York Police Department] is saying the investigation is underway and I have confidence that we’re going to bring this person into custody,” he said.
He added that authorities are working around the clock to identify the suspect ahead of the holiday season, and wants to assure visitors to the city that it is safe to visit.
“We want people to be coming into Manhattan — certainly that part of Manhattan. So we want to assure people that there are safety measures in place, and we also have to make sure we apprehend the suspect so that people can have real confidence that he’s not still out there,” he said.
50-year-old Thompson had been with the $562 billion company UnitedHealth Group’s insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, for the last 20 years and was its CEO since April 2021.
The UnitedHealth Group issued a statement, saying Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. “We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him,” it stated.
*Senior journalist
