NEW YORK -- Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan where he was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting Wednesday morning, according to a person briefed on the investigation.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the investigation.
Police did not release the victim's name, but said a 50-year-old was shot around 6:45 a.m. outside a Hilton before the shooter fled.
He was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.
The preliminary police investigation indicated the shooting was not random, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
"It appears as though this was a targeted murder," he said.
UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors Wednesday morning in New York City, according to a company media advisory. The hotel is a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center.
An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was being ended early.
Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.
Thompson has served as CEO for more than 3 years and had been with the company since 2004.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) posted on X that the state is "sending our prayers to Brian's family and the UnitedHealthcare team."
"This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and healthcare community in Minnesota," said Walz.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the country and also manages health insurance coverage for employers and state- and federally funded Medicaid programs.