A gunman shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare outside a Midtown hotel this morning, NYPD officials have confirmed. The police are still looking for the shooter.

The shooting happened at 6:46 a.m. outside New York’s Hilton Midtown Hotel on Sixth Avenue, police said. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Police said the gunman fled down an alley. NYPD officials said they initially reported the shooter was wearing a cream-colored jacket, but later told Gothamist he was dressed all in black, with a black face mask and black and white sneakers.

Police planned to hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. with more information

Thompson was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021. He first joined the company’s corporate development team in 2004 and has served in various leadership roles since then, according to his biography on the insurer’s website. Previously, he led government programs for UnitedHealthcare as well as its Medicare and pension programs.

UnitedHealth Group – which owns UnitedHealthcare – held its annual investor conference on Wednesday. The event was scheduled to start at 8 a.m

Thompson visited New York from his home in Minnesota.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on X-Wednesday: “This is terrible news and a terrible loss for the economy and health care in Minnesota. “Minnesota sends our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

UnitedHealth Group is the largest health insurer in the country. The healthcare giant has grown to control a growing share of the overall healthcare industry and now also holds the title of the largest employer of physicians. The U.S. Justice Department took action last month to curb UnitedHealth Group’s dominance, filing a civil antitrust lawsuit to stop the company from acquiring rival home health and hospice providers in a deal worth $3. That would be equivalent to $3 billion.

There have been no fatal shootings so far this year in the 18th District, which covers the western part of Midtown below Central Park, according to NYPD data compiled by Gothamist.

This is a developing story and will be updated.