From Newsgroup: nyc.politics

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group
As insurance unit, was fatally shot outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what appears to be oa brazen, targeted attack,o the New York Police Department said.

oI want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,o Police Commissioner Jessica
Tisch said during a news conference Wednesday following the shooting.

oThis does not appear to be a random act of violence,o she said, adding
that the department is carrying out a full investigation.

Thompson, 50, led UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in
the U.S. He was on the way to UnitedHealth GroupAs investor day set for Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET at the Hilton, the NYPD said. The company canceled
that event after the shooting.

Patrol officers responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET about a person
shot in front of the Hilton hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during the news conference. Officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET to find Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot
wounds to his back and leg, he added.

Emergency medical services brought Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital where he
was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET, according to Kenny.

The suspect showed up at the location on foot, roughly five minutes before Thompson arrived outside the Hilton, Kenny said. Several people passed him
as he waited for Thompson, he added.

As Thompson walked alone toward the Hilton, the suspect stepped onto the sidewalk from behind a car and approached Thompson from behind, firing
several rounds that struck him at least once in the back and at least once
in the right calf, according to Kenny and security video obtained by NBC
News. After initial shots, the gun appeared to malfunction before the
suspect fired again.

Following the shooting, the suspect fled on foot into an alleyway between
54th and 55th streets, according to Kenny. He said the suspect then walked west on Avenue of the Americas, where he got onto an e-bike and rode
toward Central Park.

Tisch said the suspect was last seen in Central Park on Center Drive early this morning. Kenny said the suspect wore a black face mask, black and
white sneakers, and a overy distinctiveo gray backpack. The video of the shooting showed the suspect wearing a hooded jacket.

The NYPD recovered three live 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings at the scene, Kenny said. He added that they recovered a
cellphone.

No arrests have been made. The NYPD has increased the reward in the case
to $10,000, Tisch noted.

The suspect in the shooting was described as using a firearm with a
silencer, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.

Kenny said the NYPD is unable to determine yet whether the suspect used a silencer. The department will investigate that further, he said.

A hot dog vendor near the Hilton who was present at 6:30 a.m. ET said he
did not hear any gunshots but noticed a sudden swarm of police. A Hilton doorman who began his shift at 7 a.m. ET said everything appeared to be opretty normalo at the hotel. Both people asked not to be named.

In a statement, a spokesperson for New York Citi Bike-operator Lyft said
the company stands oready to assist law enforcement with this
investigation.o

Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and their two
children.

ThompsonAs wife told NBC News that he had been receiving threats. She said
the NYPD told her it was a planned attack.

oYes, there had been some threats basically I donAt know, a lack of
coverage? I donAt know details,o she told NBC News. oI just know that he
said there were some people that had been threatening him.o

She told NBC News that Thompson did not alter any of his travel habits
despite the threats.

oI canAt really give a thoughtful response right now,o Paulette Thompson
told NBC News. oI just found this out and IAm trying to console my
children. o

UnitedHealth Group is the biggest health-care conglomerate in the United States based on revenue and its roughly $563 billion market cap. UnitedHealthcare posted more than $281 billion in revenue last year,
making up more than two-thirds of UnitedHealth GroupAs annual revenue for 2023.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group rose more than 1% on Wednesday.

In a statement Wednesday, UnitedHealth Group said it was odeeply saddened
and shocked at the passingo of Thompson. The company called him a ohighly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.o

oWe are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for
your patience and understanding during this difficult time,o UnitedHealth Group said. oOur hearts go out to BrianAs family and all who were close to him.o

Earlier Wednesday, the company canceled its investor event when it acknowledged a omedical situationo with an employee.

oIAm afraid that we u some of you may know weAre dealing with very serious medical situation with one of our team members,o Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty said during the investor day, according to a transcript. oAnd
as a result, IAm afraid weAre going to have to bring to a close the event today, which IAm sure youAll understand.o

Thompson had worked for United Health for just over 20 years, joining the company in April 2004 after spending nearly seven years at PwC, according
to his LinkedIn page. He stepped in as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April
2021 after serving as the top executive of the insurance unitAs government programs.

Thompson was a resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of
Minneapolis, and graduated valedictorian from the University of Iowa.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said in a statement Wednesday she was
briefed on the shooting and directed the state police to provide the NYPD
with any necessary help with the investigation.

oOur hearts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Thompson and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrator is brought to justice,o she said.

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota called the killing ohorrifying news and a
terrible loss for the business and health care communityo in a post
Wednesday on X.

UnitedHealth Group is still grappling with the fallout from a ransomware attack in February targeting its company, Change Healthcare, which
processes medical claims. The attack compromised the protected health information of at least 100 million people.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/04/unitedhealth-cancels-investor-day-after- reports-of-executive-shot-in-manhattan.html
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2