$10,000 reward offered for information on UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting: NYPD

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) – The NYPD is offering up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown, Manhattan, on Wednesday morning.

Thompson, 50, was shot outside of a Hilton hotel near 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues just before 7 a.m., according to authorities.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “Every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack.”

The suspect arrived outside the Hilton about five minutes before Thompson, then stepped onto the sidewalk from behind a car as Thompson arrived at the Hilton, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson approached the Hilton alone from his hotel across the street around 6:44 a.m., Kenny said.

The shooter then approached Thompson from behind and shot him, police said. After firing, the gun malfunctioned, and the shooter quickly cleared the jam to shoot again, Kenny said.

Thompson was shot in the back and the leg, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The shooter fled through an alley and then hopped on a Citi Bike, making his way to Central Park by 6:48 a.m., officials said. The NYPD is working with the bike company to track the bike’s GPS.

Many people had passed the suspect near the hotel, but he “appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch added.

Police have not recovered the gun used in the shooting but did pick up a phone from the alleyway where the suspect fled, according to Kenny.

Given the shooter is still on the loose, Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said New Yorkers should "be alert" but are safe to go about their day-to-day lives. The nearby Rockefeller Center tree lighting scheduled for Wednesday evening will go on as planned with an increased police presence, Maddrey said.

Thompson became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021. An investors conference for UnitedHealth Group was being held at the Hilton hotel where he was shot. It was cut short after the shooting.

“We’re dealing with a very serious… situation,” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said. “We’re going to have to bring to a close the event today… I apologize for bringing things to a close but I hope you’ll understand.”

“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. 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.”

A spokesperson for New York Hilton Midtown said the hotel chain is saddened by Thompson’s death.

“We are deeply saddened by this morning’s events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy,” the hotel spokesperson said.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.