Brian Thompson, the chief executive officer of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in New York City Wednesday morning, according to multiple media reports.
According to the New York Police Department, the shooting happened at 6:46 a.m. ET outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown.
Police said a 50-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to Mount Sinai West medical center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The incident is being investigated as a possible targeted shooting, as Thompson was expected at the hotel today for UnitedHealth Group’s investor-day conference.
The conference for analysts and institutional investors, which was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday, has since been canceled.
The NYPD released a new photo of the hooded suspect standing in front of the counter at the Starbucks at W. 56th Street and 6th Avenue, just minutes away from the Hilton hotel where he gunned down Thompson, 50.
It was not immediately clear how long the gunman, who has yet to be identified, was at the Starbucks or if he purchased anything.
Officials said that after firing at Thompson multiple times, with bullets striking his back and right calf, the gunman quickly fled the scene on foot.
He was then spotted mounting an e-Citi Bike on Sixth Avenue and disappearing into Central Park, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
