Newsinc24 Team
In USA, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in what police said appears to be a "premeditated, preplanned targeted attack" outside the New York Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. Brian Thompson, 50, was on his way to speak at UnitedHealth Group's investor conference when the gunman approached from behind and "fired several rounds," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference.He was struck at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, Tisch said, adding that the gunman was "lying in wait for several minutes."
Security video shows Thompson, dressed in a blue suit, walking down the fairly quiet street. The gunman approaches him from behind and opens fire, it shows. Thompson stumbles forward as a witness runs to safety. The gunman continues to fire as Thompson falls to the ground, the video shows.Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.His wife, Paulette Thompson, said he had been receiving threats.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company, was holding its annual investor conference Wednesday morning in New York City but abruptly ended it because of a "very serious medical situation" with a team member.The company said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened and shocked." "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," it said. "Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him." He previously was CEO of UnitedHealthcare government programs, including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State. He was also the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
