UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown, the NYPD says

A gunman shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare outside a Midtown hotel this morning, NYPD officials have confirmed.

The shooting happened at 6:46 a.m. outside New York’s Hilton Midtown Hotel on 6th Avenue, police said. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Police said the gunman fled down an alley. He was described as wearing a black face mask, black and white sneakers and black clothing.

Thompson was named Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. He first joined the company’s corporate development team in 2004 and has served in various leadership roles since then, according to his biography on the insurer’s website. Previously, he led government programs for UnitedHealthcare as well as its Medicare and pension programs.

UnitedHealth Group held its annual investor conference on Wednesday. The event was scheduled to start at 8 a.m

According to NYPD data compiled by Gothamist, there have been no fatal shootings so far this year in the 18th District, which covers the western part of downtown below Central Park.

This is a developing story and will be updated.