UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tragically killed while under a federal investigation.
A masked gunman carried out the attack near a Midtown hotel early Wednesday morning.
According to police, the assailant left a mysterious message on the bullets used in the fatal shooting.
The 50-year-old CEO was shot multiple times by the masked figure around 6:46 AM before the attacker fled the scene. Disturbingly, Thompson was being scrutinized by the Department of Justice when he met his untimely death.
His involvement came to light after he had sold stock shares totaling $15.1 million on February 16, just two weeks before it was revealed that the company was part of an antitrust probe.
The investigation was looking into whether UnitedHealthcare had completed acquisitions that might have violated antitrust regulations. The announcement caused a significant drop in the company’s stock value.
Interestingly, Thompson’s stock options were still active, making his recent sale noteworthy as it was his first since he took charge of UnitedHealth’s insurance branch in 2021.
Apart from Thompson, UnitedHealth Group chairman Stephen Helmsley, along with Chief People Officer Erin McSweeney, and Chief Accounting Officer Tom Roos, collectively sold shares valued at $101.5 million. Notably, Helmsley made almost $85 million from these transactions.
Charles Elson, a corporate governance expert from the University of Delaware, pointed out that such significant share sales by top-level executives typically undergo scrutiny by the firm’s legal team. This ensures everything is above board and necessary disclosures are made before concluding the transactions.
Earlier this year, UnitedHealth was also the victim of a massive cybersecurity breach, described as one of the largest in the healthcare sector’s history.
This ransomware attack endangered a multitude of personal details, including Social Security numbers, potentially affecting a large portion of the American population.
The NYPD disclosed that the bullets used in the crime carried words inscribed like “deny,” “depose,” and “defend.” This echoed themes from a critical 2010 book on the insurance sector, “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” Thompson was one of the leading figures in the industry discussed in the book.
Investigators retrieved a nearby phone alongside three live rounds and three shells ejected from the gun, signaling premeditated intent. Thompson was supposed to attend an investor meeting on the tragic day of his death.
Observers suggest the messages on the bullets may have been an intentional sign for Thompson. The shooter used a silencer, implying a degree of planning and expertise, according to reports.
He was seen waiting for his target outside the hotel before executing the attack at close quarters. Even as his firearm jammed temporarily, the shooter managed to clear it and continue firing, eventually fleeing into an alley and disappearing on an e-bike into Central Park, where surveillance is lacking.
Authorities mentioned the suspect’s critical error of purchasing a coffee, a water bottle, and two power bars from Starbucks just before the crime. Discarded items, including the coffee cup and water bottle, were recovered by police as potential evidence. Police also found a phone near the hotel and will examine it closely under a warranted search.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny remarked: “Our findings imply that the attack on Thompson was deliberate, targeting him precisely. We are, however, uncertain of the motive at this point. This was not an indiscriminate act of violence.”
Efforts are now focused on apprehending the suspect, with law enforcement agencies offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
