UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Hilton hotel in New York on Wednesday morning, CNBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department told NBC News that a 50-year-old man was shot in the chest and leg outside the midtown Manhattan hotel around 6:46 a.m. He was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. The police spokesperson could not identify the man. CNBC reported that it was Thompson, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Police are investigating the shooting as a targeted attack, according to CNBC. Police have not yet identified a possible motive. No arrests have been made.
Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News in a phone call that he had received threats.
“There had been some threats,” she said. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know any details. All I know is that he said there were people threatening him.”
UnitedHealth Group was scheduled to host an investor day at the hotel on Wednesday. The event has now been canceled, CNBC reports. At the event on Wednesday morning, the company did not confirm the shooting, but staff cited a “very serious medical situation involving one of our team members” as the reason for the closure, according to a transcript of the comments seen by CNBC.
Thompson was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, according to his biography on the company website. He joined UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, in 2004. He held several leadership positions at the company before being appointed CEO.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
