The head of America’s biggest health insurer has been killed in an early morning shooting outside an investor meeting in New York.
UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton Hotel, where the company’s investor conference was being held.
Police said Mr Thompson had been rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
United Healthcare is the health insurance subsidiary of United Health Group, one of America’s biggest healthcare companies.
According to the New York Post, police said the event appeared to be a targeted attack.
Mr Thompson was shot at around 6:45am. The suspect, described as wearing a cream-coloured jacket, a black face mask and a grey backpack, fled on a bicycle.
No arrests have been made in connection with the attack.
UnitedHealth cancelled the investor conference.
“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today,” chief executive Andrew Witty said.
The gunman lay in wait for around 10 minutes before Mr Thompson arrived. He then shot at him several times from around 20 feet away, CNN reported.
Police reportedly believe the gunman fled into Central Park., which is five blocks away from the scene of the shooting.
Mr Thompson’s sister-in-law, Elena Reveiz, told the New York Times: “He was a good person, and I am so sad”, adding that he was a good father to his two children.
Eric Adams, the New York Mayor, said the shooting appeared to be targeted.
“We want to be clear to New Yorkers that this does not appear to be a random act of violence,” he told reporters.
“We are deeply saddened by this morning’s events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy,” a New York Hilton Midtown general manager told CNN.
The NYPD said police responded to a 911 call of a male shot in front of 1335 Avenues of the Americas.
“Upon arrival, officers observed a 50-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest”, a spokesperson told The Telegraph.
He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in “critical condition”, where he was later pronounced dead.
There have been no arrests and the investigation is active, he added.
Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, ended the investor conference on Wednesday morning.
According to the Financial Times, he told attendees: “I’m afraid that . . . some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members and as a result I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today.”
UnitedHealth is worth $556billion and generated more than $370billion in revenues last year. UnitedHealthcare accounted for 75 per cent of the group’s revenues, the newspaper reported.
