UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Midtown, masked gunman fleeing New York Hilton

MIDTOWN (WABC) – The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning.

The gunfire erupted at 6:40 a.m. near the New York Hilton on Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets.

Police sources said Brian Thompson, 50, of Minnesota, was shot in the chest. He was taken to Mount Sinai West, where he later died.

Thompson was in New York City for an investor conference at the Hilton. He didn’t live in this hotel.

His schedule was widely known. The police are currently assuming a targeted shooting.

“I wasn’t paying attention and then I heard the shot. It was a silent gun, a black gun, I saw him after he shot him, running across the street. I tried to take a photo but too far away, not clear,” said Amar Abdelmula, a driver.

The gunman fled north into the alley between 54th and 55th streets.

“I was shocked. For the first time I see a crime in front of me,” Abdelmula said. “I was afraid that he would shoot me too, my car, I saw everything.”

The shooter is described as 1.85 meters tall, slim and wearing a black jacket, black hat, black ski mask and black backpack.

Thompson was promoted to CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he was valedictorian of the class of 1997 at the University of Iowa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

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