A tragic and shocking incident unfolded in the heart of New York City on Wednesday morning when Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot in what police are calling a “brazen targeted attack.” Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on 54th Street, just as the company was hosting an important investor meeting.
According to investigators, the gunman had been waiting for Thompson outside the hotel. Surveillance footage shows the attacker walking up behind Thompson as he approached the hotel’s entrance around 6:45 a.m. Without hesitation, the gunman opened fire, hitting Thompson in the back and leg. The video even captured the shooter dealing with a jammed pistol mid-attack before continuing to fire. Tragically, Thompson collapsed on the sidewalk, and the attacker fled the scene on an electric Citi Bike, later disappearing into Central Park.
Jessica Tisch, the city’s police commissioner, revealed that the shooter ignored other people on the street, clearly focused on targeting Thompson. Officers recovered three shell casings at the scene. Surveillance cameras from a nearby Starbucks showed the suspect—a white man wearing a dark, hooded coat and a mask—inside the coffee shop shortly before the attack. Additional footage showed the man waiting in the area at least 10 minutes before the shooting.
A law enforcement official disclosed that Thompson had recently received multiple threats. While the source of these threats is still under investigation, it’s not uncommon for health care executives to face backlash due to the high-stakes nature of their industry.
Thompson was the head of one of the largest health insurance companies in the country. Since being promoted to CEO in April 2021, he oversaw a division employing 140,000 people. The company, UnitedHealthcare, is known for its massive growth but has faced scrutiny for denying medical procedures and for a cyberattack that exposed private information of over 100 million Americans.
News of the shooting spread quickly at the investor meeting happening inside the Hilton. Attendees were left stunned as updates began to pop up on their phones. Ryan Langston, an analyst present at the meeting, described the atmosphere as turning “somber and very quiet” once people realized what had happened.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, expressed deep sorrow in a statement, saying, “Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” Thompson leaves behind two children. His sister-in-law, Elena Reveiz, spoke to the media, heartbroken over the loss. “He was a good person, and I am so sad,” she said, adding that she was on her way to support his grieving family.
The shooting took place just four blocks away from Rockefeller Center, where the iconic Christmas tree lighting ceremony was scheduled for the same evening. Despite the tragedy, the police confirmed that the event would proceed as planned with heightened security measures. Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the NYPD’s chief of department, assured the public that there would be a “massive police presence” at the celebration.
The New York Hilton Midtown, where the shooting occurred, is one of the city’s most famous hotels. Over the years, it has hosted events like the Emmy Awards, Donald Trump’s 2016 victory speech, and even iconic figures like Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Now, it’s at the center of an intense investigation as authorities work to track down the man responsible for this shocking crime.
