Masked Gunman Who Killed UnitedHealth CEO on the Loose in N.Y.C. Hours Before Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot and killed in front of the Midtown Hilton
New York City police are searching for a masked gunman who is on the loose after fatally shooting UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan — hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Tree lighting.
Just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Brian Thompson, 50, was shot to death by a masked gunman in an apparent targeted attack, police said according to multiple reports including ABC, The New York Times and PIX 11, who cite police sources.
Officers responded to a call at about 6:40 a.m. in front of 1335 Sixth Avenue, the address for the New York Hilton Midtown at 54th Street, where they found a 50-year-old man who'd been shot in the chest. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, a New York City Police Department spokesman told PEOPLE.
Although police haven't identified the victim, Thompson was identified as the victim by UnitedHealth Group.
The gunman was spotted heading northbound on Sixth Avenue, an NYPD spokesman told PEOPLE.
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NYPD released surveillance photos of the suspectThe shooting took place as tourists poured into New York City for the famed tree lighting blocks away in Rockefeller Center.
According to a bio on the company's website, Thompson was named CEO in April 2021. Prior to that, he was CEO of the company's government programs, including its medicare program.
He joined the company in 2004, according to his bio.
UnitedHealth Group; MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Lorie Burleson, Provider Advocate Account Manager at UnitedHealthCare, issued a statement on LinkedIn about the fatal shooting.
"This morning, we learned of the devastating loss of our CEO, Brian Thompson, who was tragically taken from us," she wrote. "This is an unimaginable loss for UnitedHealth Group and for everyone who knew him.
"To my UHC family, my heart is with each of you during this incredibly difficult time. Let us come together to honor Brian's legacy and support one another as we navigate this tragedy."
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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