UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting: Backpack Found in Central Park

UnitedHealth Group

Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021.

Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News.

Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompson—though according to a Wall Street Journal report, they had been living in separate homes—and was the father of two sons.

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Patrol officers from the New York City Police Department’s Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning.

Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompson’s back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.

“The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.”

Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a “pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” and not a random act of violence.

“The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway,” she noted, “and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.”

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According to Kenny, the shooter—who has yet to be named or arrested—headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompson’s arrival.

In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day.

The chief detective added the shooter—who ignored “numerous other pedestrians”—approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting.

Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m.

Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News Dec. 5 the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on the shell casings.

However, Kenny noted the motive for the killing is still unknown.

He added a cellphone was discovered in an alley where the shooter fled before walking on a sidewalk toward the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman.

Kenny also said investigators are "looking at everything"—including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and family—that could help in the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement. 

NYPD

During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who was "wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack."

On Dec. 4, New York police shared photos of an individual they're looking for holding a gun and riding a bike.

Later that day, the NYPD tweeted out more pictures of a person they said they're searching for wearing a black mask, dark hooded jacket and gray backpack. Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News these photos were captured from a Starbucks prior to the shooting.

On Dec. 5, the NYPD released additional photos of a person of interest that showed the individual wearing a hooded jacket and lowered face mask. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News the photos came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel. Two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators are trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and paid cash for a hostel room.

Three senior law enforcement officials also told NBC News investigators think the shooter possibly took a bus to New York from Atlanta, with the outlet reporting officials are looking at names on tickets from a Nov. 24 Greyhound bus trip to see if they can identify the shooter and that Greyhound said they're cooperating with authorities.

On Dec. 6, Kenny told CNN investigators think the shooter may have left New York as he was spotted at Port Authority.

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After learning of the shooting, Thompson’s family mourned his passing.

“We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.”

Thompson’s wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats.

"Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him."

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UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota.

"Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”

And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place."

"So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend."

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However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall.

These have included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson.

For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company." 

The lawsuit, per the BBC, remains active.

And while a motive for the shooting has again not been revealed, many outlets have noted the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" on the shell casings are similar to the title of a 2010 book called Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.

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