UnitedHealthcare CEO Fatally Shot, Gunman Nonetheless at Giant

The CEO of insurance coverage large UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was shot and killed Wednesday morning in New York in what seemed to be a focused assault, in line with Mayor Eric Adams. Thompson, 50, was an government vice chairman of UnitedHealthcare’s dad or mum firm, United Well being Group, which was holding its annual investor convention in Midtown Manhattan.

Thompson was shot exterior the Hilton Lodge at 54th and sixth Ave by a gunman who fired a number of photographs and fled on an ebike down sixth Avenue, in line with the NYPD. Thompson was shot “not less than as soon as within the again and not less than as soon as within the calf,” in line with a spokesperson from the New York Police Division at a press convention that was livestreamed on YouTube.

The gunman remains to be at giant and witnesses gave conflicting stories to police of what he regarded like. Some witnesses described a person in a cream-colored coat whereas others mentioned the person was carrying all black, in line with the Occasions. The New York Post obtained surveillance footage that exhibits a determine in a darker-colored hooded sweatshirt who was carrying a lighter-colored backpack, which might be the place the confusion lies. The suspect additionally wore a black face masks.

Surveillance photographs present suspect in deadly Midtown capturing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson https://t.co/mWQJgx0Cje pic.twitter.com/gqYdacOuZG

— New York Put up (@nypost) December 4, 2024

Thompson was reportedly shot round 6:45 a.m. ET, he was pronounced lifeless on the hospital at 7:12 a.m. The investor’s convention began at 8:00 a.m. however wasn’t stopped till shortly after 9:00 a.m. Attendees of the convention appeared oblivious to the id of the capturing sufferer, in line with the New York Occasions, which quoted one individual saying “somebody obtained shot exterior,” apparently unaware it was the corporate’s CEO.

Police recovered a telephone allegedly discarded by the suspect close to the capturing however NYPD didn’t present any particulars about any proof it might have been in a position to raise from that but. The factor that’s clear is that this was a focused act and the shooter was described by police as “proficient in firearms” as a result of the shooter shortly cleared a jam that occurred when he was unloading a number of rounds.

“We need to be clear to New Yorkers that this doesn’t look like a random act of violence,” Adams mentioned, in line with the New York Times.

Social media shortly stuffed with reactions to the capturing, together with all the things from shock to some darkish humor. Given UnitedHealth’s lengthy historical past of denying claims, there have been quite a lot of jokes about how there are most likely 100 million suspects on this nation.

UnitedHealth Group is without doubt one of the largest corporations within the nation and headquartered in Minnesota, the place politicians expressed their condolences. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, shared a hyperlink to a Star Tribune article concerning the killing.

“It is a horrifying and surprising act of violence,” Klobuchar wrote on X. “My ideas are with Brian Thompson’s household and family members and all these working at United Healthcare in Minnesota.”

Police in New York are providing a $10,000 reward for info that results in the arrest of the suspect. UnitedHealth’s inventory surged over 2.4% after information of the killing. It’s presently sitting up 1.4% on the day.