Wife reveals slain UnitedHealthcare CEO received ‘some threats’ before ‘brazen targeted attack’

A manhunt is underway after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot Wednesday morning in what police called a “brazen targeted attack” outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Thompson’s wife said her husband recently received threats from disgruntled customers over complaints they said may have had to do with “lack of coverage.”

“I don’t know any details,” Paulette Thompson told NBC News. “All I know is that he said there were some people who threatened him.”

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The unnamed suspect ambushed the 50-year-old Thompson, then approached him from behind and opened fire, hitting him in the back and right calf, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. The suspected shooter, a white man dressed all in black, fled on a Citi Bike e-bike after the shocking murder and was last seen in Central Park, Kenny said, noting that “a cell phone was recovered” and that Citi Bikes that require a … debit card or credit card to rent are equipped with GPS devices.

Thompson’s killing was “not a random act of violence,” Kenny said. The suspect, who was not a guest at the Hilton, was seen walking alone toward the future crime scene about five minutes before Thompson’s arrival. According to police, the suspect then got out from behind a car and shot Thompson.

Reached by phone, Thompson’s brother Mark said The Independent He was not yet ready to comment on the heartbreaking situation.

Elena Reveiz, Thompson’s sister, said The New York Times that she is also still processing the news, but her brother “was a good person and I’m so sad.”

The NYPD confirmed this The Independent Following the shooting, the company said that “a 50-year-old man” was fatally shot at that location, but the victim’s identity would not be released pending official notification from the family. Police officials formally identified Thompson at a news conference later Wednesday morning.

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Police sources said this New York Post that the killing was a “targeted attack,” which was confirmed during Chief Kenny’s press conference. Kenny said investigators recovered three live nine-millimeter cartridges and three fired nine-millimeter shell casings. On Wednesday afternoon, the NYPD released surveillance camera photos of the suspect at a nearby Starbucks.

Thompson, who joined parent company UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The shooting occurred around 6:46 a.m.; The masked gunman is said to have fled into an alley before escaping on a bicycle. Thompson was scheduled to speak at an investor conference at the Hilton at 8 a.m

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A conference attendee described the scene inside Assetstold the outlet that people were sitting and waiting for the event to begin when news of the shooting began circulating around the room. Some began to cry. The attendee, who said he ate with Thompson, was “an upstanding guy, a good guy. I’ve never met anyone who had anything bad to say about him.”

Police sources said Thompson was not staying at the hotel and they had not yet determined a motive for the fatal attack. There were no arrests. The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect.

“This is terrible news and a terrible loss for the economy and health care in Minnesota,” Gov. Tim Walz posted on social media. “Minnesota sends our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

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Before taking the CEO post, Thompson, a father of two who works in UnitedHealthcare’s offices in Minnetonka, Minn., worked as the company’s director of government programs. His $10.2 million annual compensation package made him one of the highest-paid executives at UnitedHealthcare.

A caterer for Wednesday’s investor event told 1010 WINS that she suspected something was wrong when no one showed up to the opening session.

The investor conference was subsequently canceled and a company representative told attendees that one of our team members was experiencing a “very serious medical situation.”

A statement released a few hours later by UnitedHealth Group said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare.” Brian was highly valued by all who worked with him colleague and friend. We are working closely with the NYPD and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.”