UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a New York hotel

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot Wednesday morning in what appeared to be a “premeditated, targeted attack” outside the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Brian Thompson, 50, was on his way to speak at the UnitedHealth Group investor conference when the gunman approached him from behind and “fired several shots,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference.

He was hit at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, Tisch said, adding that the suspect “lay in wait for several minutes.”

“Many people walked past the suspect, but he appeared to be waiting for his intended target,” she said.

Security footage of the shooting shows Thompson walking down the fairly quiet street in a blue suit. The gunman approaches him from behind and opens fire, the video shows.

Thompson stumbles forward as a witness scrambles to safety. The gunman continues firing as Thompson falls to the ground, the footage shows.

Detective Chief Joseph Kenny said the suspect arrived at the scene about five minutes before the shooting and fired one shot at Thompson’s back.

“The shooter then walks towards the victim and continues shooting. It appears the gun is malfunctioning as he clears the jam and starts firing again,” he said.

Three live 9mm cartridges and three fired 9mm shell casings were found at the scene, as well as a cell phone near the scene.

Kenny reiterated that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack.

“The motive for this murder is unknown at this time, but based on the evidence we have so far, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted,” he told reporters. “But at this point we don’t know why.”

Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.

His wife, Paulette Thompson, said he received threats.

“There were some threats,” she told NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of reporting? I don’t know any details. All I know is that he said there were some people who threatened him.”

She said police told her it appeared the shooting was “a planned attack.”

The shooter fled the scene on foot and then on a New York Citi Bike, Tisch said. He was last seen in Central Park. There had been no arrests as of Wednesday morning, police said. Crime Stoppers offered a $10,000 reward for information.

According to police, the suspect was wearing a black hoodie and black pants and carrying a gray backpack. The suspect is believed to have used a firearm with a silencer, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.

A food truck vendor near the scene told NBC News he didn’t hear any shots but saw police vehicles and two helicopters in the area.

Parent company UnitedHealth Group held its annual investor conference in New York City on Wednesday morning, but ended it abruptly due to a “very serious medical situation” involving a team member.

The company said in a statement it was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Thompson’s death.

“Brian was a valued colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said. “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.”

According to his bio page, Thompson was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004.

He previously served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State. He also served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.

Thompson is survived by his wife and two sons.