UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Fatally Shot in Midtown
Manhattan
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot
early Wednesday outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan, according to the
NYPD. The shooting occurred on Wednesday December 4, around 6:45 a.m. during
the company's investors' conference.
Thompson was struck once in the chest in what authorities
believe was a targeted attack. He was transported to Mount Sinai West, where he
succumbed to his injuries. The gunman, wearing a black face mask, fled the
scene. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, which shows the
suspect appearing to have waited for Thompson before the attack. The police
have yet to determine a motive, as Thompson was not robbed.
The incident took place on Sixth Avenue near West 54th
Street, a bustling area just blocks from Rockefeller Center, which was
preparing for its annual tree lighting ceremony later that evening. Police
cordoned off the street, and more than a dozen officers were on-site during the
morning commute.
A witness, seated in his car nearby, described the moment he
heard the gunshot. “I was looking at my phone and heard the shot. I was shocked
- it’s the first time I’ve seen a crime happen right in front of me. Now I fear
he could’ve shot me too,” he said.
The NYPD is urging anyone with information to contact Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. Tips
can also be submitted online, with confidentiality guaranteed.
The tragic event has sent shockwaves through the healthcare
industry and the Midtown community, raising concerns over public safety in one
of New York City’s busiest districts.
