The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the US, was murdered in New York
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot in the back and leg by a gunman outside the Hilton Hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.
The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan where a business event was taking place.
The attack was carried out by a gunman, who was allegedly waiting for Thompson nearby, who opened fire from a distance of approximately six meters, hitting him in the back and calf.
After the attack, Thompson was immediately transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the New York Police Department report.
Brian Thompson, 50, was a prominent figure in the US health sector. Since April 2021, he led UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the country.
Before taking over as CEO, he led the company's government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, consolidating the company's position in essential services for millions of citizens.
Brian Thompson received death threats
After Thompson's murder, his wife, Paulette Thompson, revealed that the executive had received threats in recent months. However, he said he did not know the exact details of the alleged threats, he said in a telephone conversation with NBC News. Brian Thompson's wife and two children live in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
For his part, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the incident a "terrible blow" to the state's business and health community, according to statements collected by Telemundo.
Police, who are continuing to investigate, described the suspect as a tall, thin man who fled the scene on a bicycle. Witness statements suggest the attacker had waited for hours outside the hotel where the attack took place.