The Steady Drip: UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed in Manhattan by Masked Gunman, NYPD Chief Says (Connecting the Dots: UnitedHealthcare, New York City, Medicaid and Medicare, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Center for American Progress, America's Health Insurance Plans & Soros Funding, All Networking)

UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed in Manhattan by Masked Gunman, NYPD Chief Says (Connecting the Dots: UnitedHealthcare, New York City, Medicaid and Medicare, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Center for American Progress, America's Health Insurance Plans & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Officials say in reports that Brian Thompson may have been killed in a targeted attack.

The Epoch Times

By Jack Phillips

12/4/2024 Updated: 12/4/2024

Police officers stand near the scene where the CEO of United Healthcare Brian Thompson was reportedly shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, on Dec. 4, 2024. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed-in-manhattan-by-masked-gunman-reports-say-5770620?src_src=RTNews&src_cmp=rtbreaking-2024-12-04-1&est=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYOApbAAPmOHP4bIHsitaBLnAITOgxbwx%2FkKiVbQ0RhXO

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s insurance unit, Brian Thompson, was shot and killed by a masked gunman in what appears to be a targeted attack in New York City, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

In a news conference on Wednesday morning, Tisch said that Thompson was killed in a “brazen, targeted attack” and that the suspect lied in wait for several minutes before shooting the UnitedHealth CEO multiple times in the back.

The suspect, who was last seen in Central Park, fled on foot and later on an E-bike. The individual has not been identified or captured.

The public was urged to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers tip line, increasing the reward in the case to $10,000, the police commissioner said. The motive for the murder is not clear, officials said.

The shooting of Thompson was a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack,” Tisch said, adding that several people passed by the suspect as he waited “for his intended target.”

The suspect was described as a “light-skinned” male who was wearing a “cream-colored jacket,” an NYPD official said at the news conference. A photo of the suspect holding a gun with what appears to be a silencer, or suppressor, as well as a photo suspect riding a bike were distributed online.

Authorities said that the shooting will not affect the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan later on Wednesday.

“Millions of people will be enjoying the tree lighting tonight, among other holiday events, and the NYPD will be out there with them, keeping them safe,” Tisch said.

Law enforcement officials are interviewing family members, UnitedHealth employees, and other individuals in Minnesota, where the company is based, authorities said.

The company was hosting its investor day on Wednesday, which was closed before time due to “a very serious medical situation” with one of its team members, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said at the event, a recording of which was aired by CNBC on Wednesday. He did not make mention of Thompson or any UnitedHealth staffer in particular.

Police say that the suspect may have used a gun silencer, also known as a suppressor, in the shooting, according to multiple local and international media reports, citing police sources. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a ski mask.

Earlier on Wednesday, the NYPD deputy commissioner’s office said a male was shot in front of 13356 6th Avenue, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct. Thompson was then transported to Mount Sinai West in critical condition and later pronounced dead, the NYPD said.

Thompson took over as the leader of the company’s insurance unit in 2021, according to the health insurance company’s website. Before that, he was in charge of the insurance giant’s Medicaid and Medicare unit.

UnitedHealthcare is a unit of UnitedHealth Group, the company says. UnitedHealth Group is ranked as the largest health insurance company in the United States, according to Forbes magazine.

As of Wednesday morning’s trading, UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s stock was up by around 1 percent.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a file photo. UnitedHealth Group via Reuters

UnitedHealthcare did not immediately respond to an Epoch Times request for comment. The health giant also has not issued a statement on reports of Thompson’s death.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the former Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate, wrote in a Wednesday post on X that the development is “horrifying news and a terrible loss” for business in his state. “Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

Connecting the Dots:

Jeannine M. Rivet is the EVP for the UnitedHealth Group Inc. and was a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Lewis G. Sandy is the SVP for the UnitedHealth Group Inc. and was a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Tom Daschle was an adviser for the UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nominee for health and human services secretary for the Barack Obama administration and a director at the Center for American Progress.

Donald M. Berwick is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and was an administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Center for American Progress was a funder for America's Health Insurance Plans.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Committee for Economic Development.

Donna S. Morea was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and the EVP for the CGI Group Inc.

CGI Group Inc. was the Obamacare contractor that developed Healthcare.gov web site.

Obamacare is Barack Obama’s signature policy initiative.

Mary Agnes Wilderotter is a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and a member of the Belizean Grove.

Davia B. Temin was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and is a member of the Belizean Grove.

Michele J. Hooper is a member of the Belizean Grove and a director at the UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Lois E. Quam was a manager for the UnitedHealth Group Inc. and a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.

James A. Johnson was a director at the UnitedHealth Group Inc. and a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.

Henrietta Holsman Fore is a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development, a member of the Belizean Grove and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Belizean_Grove is the equivalent to the male-only social group, the Bohemian Club.

Henry A. Kissinger was a member of the Bohemian Club and a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation,

was the New York (NY) mayor, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

George Soros was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank),

the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation the Urban Institute (think tank) and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Urban Institute (think tank) is a contractor for Obamacare.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was the lobby firm for the American Medical Association, the Center for American Progress and the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Center for American Progress (think tank) was a funder for America's Health Insurance Plans.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Center for American Progress (think tank) was a funder for America's Health Insurance Plans.

Scott Armstrong is a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans and a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

Duberstein Group, Inc. is the lobby firm for the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Dan L. Crippen was the SVP for the Duberstein Group, Inc. and a director at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Kenneth M. Duberstein is the chairman & CEO for the Duberstein Group, Inc. and was the VP for the Committee for Economic Development.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Committee for Economic Development.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.