Motive, perpetrator remain elusive in shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Media reports and law enforcement sources described Wednesday morning’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as a targeted attack against a high-profile executive, but as of early evening, police could not say why it happened.

Thompson, 50, a married father of two teenage children, was walking toward the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan when he was shot, CNN reported. It appeared he was walking alone. The annual investor conference of parent company UnitedHealth Group (UHG) was scheduled to begin at the hotel roughly 75 minutes after the shooting, which happened at approximately 6:45 a.m.

The shooter, wearing a hood and a face mask, waited for about five minutes before Thompson’s arrival, then fired multiple times and struck Thompson in the back and the leg from about 20 feet away, according to reports that cited law enforcement sources. The CEO was in town from his home in the Minneapolis suburbs.

A silencer appeared to be attached to the gun, according to reports, but police could not verify that fact when they spoke to the media late Wednesday morning.

“The gun jammed during the shooting, but the suspect cleared it and continued his attack, police said,” according to a Wall Street Journal report. “The suspect appeared to be proficient in firearms.”

The shooter fled into Central Park by foot and then by e-bike and remained at large Wednesday. A citywide manhunt was underway throughout the day.

“I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,” New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference Wednesday morning, according to a CNBC report.

Police announced a reward of up to $10,000 for providing information leading to an arrest and conviction.

No answers as to why

Police emphasized that they had not identified a motive in the shooting.

NBC News obtained a comment from Thompson’s wife, Paulette, who said he had been receiving threats.

“There had been some threats. Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details,” Paulette Thompson said, according to the report. “I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

She declined to comment further on the nature of the threats when reached by other media outlets.

CNN reported that a source with knowledge of the investigation described concerning threats having been made against high-level executives at UHG, although not Thompson specifically. The company was said to be aware of the threats.

The outlet later reported that an in-house security team is available to support UHG leaders and was on hand for the investor conference. But Thompson did not have a security detail with him at the time of the shooting.

Shock and sadness

UHG canceled the investor conference about an hour into the event, once news broke that Thompson had been shot and had died after being taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital, according to a Bloomberg report. The company initially cited a medical emergency affecting one of its team members.

The organization later issued a statement:

“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

Thompson was UnitedHealthcare’s CEO since April 2021. A CPA and a University of Iowa alum, he joined the company in 2004 and filled other leadership positions, including overseeing the insurer’s Medicare Advantage business, before assuming the chief executive role.

CNN obtained a minute-long video sent by to employees by UHG CEO Andrew Witty after the shooting.

“I know we are in shock and disbelief,” Witty said in the video, according to CNN. “Brian was truly an extraordinary person who touched the lives of countless people throughout our organization and far beyond.”

Paulette Thompson provided a statement to a Minneapolis TV news outlet, KARE 11, saying, “Brian was a wonderful person with a big heart and who lived life to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by everybody. Our hearts are broken, and we are completely devastated by this news. He touched so many lives.”

The New York Post described various online tributes to Thompson from UnitedHealthcare employees and industry acquaintances after the shooting.