The boss of an international healthcare company has been shot dead outside of a hotel ahead of an investor conference, reports have said.
Brian Thompson, 50, was reportedly shot in the chest shortly before 7am this morning outside New York Hilton Hotel in New York City.
Sources told the New York Post that the businessman was shot by a masked shooter, wearing a cream-coloured jacket, a black face mask, and black and white trainers.
The New York Police Department said a man was shot in front of the Hilton’s address around 6:40 a.m. ET (1140 GMT) and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
They have not confirm the victim’s identity or a motive.
Witnesses said that the suspected gunman was waiting outside the hotel until Mr Thompson arrived, when he opened fire.
The victim was reportedly shot several times before the shooter rode away on a bike down an alley.
There was a significant police presence at the scene in New York this morning.
Mr Thompson had been set to attend an event for United Healthcare at the Hilton Hotel that he was shot. He was appointed the company’s CEO in 2021 and earned a reported $10 million.
The CEO of parent company United Health group, Andrew Witty, paused the meeting at around 8am this morning after news of the shooting.
He said: ‘We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today.’
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in April 2021 after working at the company since 2004 in several departments, according to the company’s web site.
UnitedHealthcare is a unit of UnitedHealth Group.
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