Rachel Leining

Reporting from Minnesota:

UnitedHealthcare has been subject to public and government scrutiny for its practices, particularly its pattern of denying coverage for claims.

At a protest outside the company’s Minnesota headquarters in July 2024, 11 people were arrested and charged with blocking a road after gathering to protest United Healthcare’s insurance woes, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. At the time, the company said the safety of its employees was its top priority.

The People’s Action Institute, which organized the July protest and an earlier one against the company, said in July that the company’s policyholders and medical professionals “petitioned, protested and spoke directly with UnitedHealth Group’s chief medical officer about our concerns.” have”. , but its leadership has refused to acknowledge that prior authorizations and claim denials are a widespread problem.”

Jenn Coffey, a former Republican representative in New Hampshire, has participated in protests against the company and spoken publicly about claims and insurance denials for medical treatments.

“I stood at United Healthcare headquarters in Minnesota and told them I didn’t want to die,” she wrote on her website. “I feel like it’s exactly what they’re hoping for.”

According to the company, Brian Thompson, 50, was named Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021.

Prior to this position, he served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare and Retirement and Community and State.

Before leading government programs, Thompson was CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement.

Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004.

Rachel Leining

Reporting from Minnesota:

As of Wednesday morning, two buildings associated with the company had their flags — U.S. flags, Minnesota flags and corporate flags — at half-staff.

There was a police officer in front of a building, but otherwise the buildings were quiet.

UnitedHealthcare released a statement about the incident shortly after noon ET.

The explanation is:

We are deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a valued colleague and friend to everyone who worked with him. We are working closely with the NYPD and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and everyone who was close to him.

Police are still searching for the shooter and are offering up to $10,000 to anyone with information about Thompson’s death.

Police described the shooter as a light-skinned man wearing a tan or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and carrying a “very distinctive gray backpack.”

A flyer published by the New York Police Department contains two surveillance photos of the shooter. The photos show a person dressed in black with a gray backpack holding a firearm and another of the shooter on a bicycle.

Officials said there have been no arrests so far and that the investigation is ongoing. The motive is currently unknown.

According to police, video surveillance footage shows the shooter arrived at the scene on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived at the scene.

At 6:44 a.m. Thompson is seen alone on the way to the Hilton.

The gunman appeared to ignore other pedestrians passing by before approaching Thompson from behind and shooting him in the back, police said. The shooter then moves closer to Thompson and continues shooting.

Authorities say the gun then appeared to malfunction, prompting the gunman to clear the jam before firing again.

The shooter then fled north into an alley between 54th and 55th Streets. The shooter then continues west on Avenue of the Americas, where he hops on an electric Citi bike and rides north toward Central Park.

At a news conference Wednesday, police said they believe Thompson was the target of the attack.

It was a “brazen targeted attack,” said New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, adding that it “does not appear to be a random act of violence.”

“I want to make it clear at this time that everything indicates that this was a premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack,” she added.

Police in New York City are searching for a gunman who shot fatally Brian Thompsonthe CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurers in the United States, early Wednesday morning.

Thompson was in New York City for the annual UnitedHealthcare investor conference, which was scheduled to take place today.

But around 6:45 a.m. local time, a man wearing a mask approached him outside the Hilton Hotel and shot him repeatedly, police said, killing him.

Police said they believe Thompson was the target of the attack.