UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 in what police describe as a “brazen, targeted attack.” The masked gunman, who used a silenced firearm, waited outside the hotel where Thompson was hosting an investors’ conference before firing multiple shots and fleeing on an e-bike into Central Park. NYPD officials have launched a manhunt for the suspect, believed to have dropped a cell phone at the scene, which investigators are analyzing for leads.

Brian Thompson, 50, arrived at the hotel at approximately 6:46 a.m.

The 50-year-old CEO was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to Mount Sinai West Hospital. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny confirmed the attack was deliberate but stated the motive remains unclear. Law enforcement is investigating possible threats Thompson and his family had received prior to the incident.

Surveillance footage captured the suspect purchasing items at a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The gunman, described as a white male wearing a dark jacket, black mask, and a distinctive gray backpack, was last seen biking toward Central Park. Investigators are analyzing fingerprints, DNA evidence, and GPS tracking data from a Citi Bike used in the escape.

Authorities responded to the scene of the shooting outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown.

Thompson, a well-respected executive earning nearly $10 million annually, led the nation’s largest private health insurer since 2021. He leaves behind his wife and two children in Minnesota. While highly regarded for his leadership, Thompson and UnitedHealthcare faced controversies, including an antitrust investigation and lawsuits accusing executives of insider trading.

New York Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have reassured residents that the attack does not pose a wider public threat. “This was clearly a targeted act,” Adams said, vowing to bring the perpetrator to justice.