Brian Thompson, the chief executive of Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare, has been shot and killed in Manhattan in what police officials called a brazen attack that apparently targeted the executive.

Thompson, 50, was fatally shot outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown where video evidence indicates the gunman was “lying in wait” for several minutes and approached from behind, firing several rounds that struck Thompson at least once in the back and leg, said Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City police department, at a Wednesday news conference.

“Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in what appears — in this early stage of our investigation — to be a brazen, targeted attack,” Tisch said. “This does not appear to be a random act of violence.”

The police commissioner added: “I want to be clear, at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”

Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information on what they described as a homicide. They said the shooting occurred at about 6:40 a.m. Eastern time.

The shooter arrived on the location about five minutes before Thompson, who was walking alone without a security detail, said Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Video shows the suspect step out from behind a car, ignore other pedestrians, Kenny said, and start shooting from behind

While walking toward Thompson, the gun apparently malfunctioned, Kenny said. The shoot cleared the jam, began to fire again and then fled on foot. He was later seen riding on an e-bike, and was spotted in Central Park as well.

“The motive for this murder currently is unknown,” Kenny said. “Based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted. But at this point, we do not know why.”

Thompson was CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer. It is a division of parent UnitedHealth Group, which is the fourth-largest public company in America behind Walmart, Amazon and Apple.

His wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had been receiving threats. “There had been some threats,” she said in a phone call to NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

Thompson was named chief executive of the insurance division in April 2021. For several years prior, he ran the Medicare Advantage business within UnitedHealthcare, which has been at the center of recent industry scrutiny over risk adjustment payments and prior authorization denials.

Company leaders were gathered in New York at the annual investors’ conference for parent company UnitedHealth Group when CEO Andrew Witty abruptly halted the meeting just after 8 a.m. Central time.

“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” Witty said. “As a result, I’m afraid, we’re going to have to bring to a close the event.”

Thompson’s two sons are Wayzata (Minnesota) High School students, one current and one who graduated this year past spring. His eldest son lettered three years on the lacrosse team, said one of his coaches.

His parents “were present around all of the team events,” said assistant coach Brandon Carlson, who saw breaking news reports of Brian Thompson’s death but had not realized it was the father of his former athlete.

Brian Thompson and wife Paulette Reveiz Thompson “were very supportive of their son,” Carlson said. “He’s an amazing young man and a teammate everyone would want to have.”

His second son is a sophomore and active on the track & field team.

Wayzata High School Principal Scott Gengler sent a note to staff Wednesday morning expressing deep sympathies to the family. “In response, Wayzata High School has taken immediate steps to support our students and staff, as they process this devastating event,” Gengler wrote in a memo shared with the Star Tribune. “Our student support teams are available and are offering a safe and supportive space for students and staff to grieve and find comfort. Additionally, our dedicated team of social workers is available to provide personalized support and guidance for those who need it.”

Thompson was an executive with the company for two decades. He graduated in 1997 from the University of Iowa, according to his LinkedIn page, where he studied business administration and accounting.

“He was humble, a servant-leader and family man,” said John Penshorn, a former UnitedHealth Group executive who worked with Thompson for more than a decade before retiring in 2019.

Steve Parente, a health economist at the University of Minnesota and former health care official in the Trump administration, said he worked with Thompson to help create a system for distributing federal financial aid to health care providers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”He was just an incredible guy — nice, resourceful,” said Parente, who worked in the White House at the time. “This is just a total tragedy.”

Several prominent Minnesotans took to social media Wednesday morning to express their condolences over the loss. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on social media: “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota. Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “This is a horrifying and shocking act of violence. My thoughts are with Brian Thompson’s family and loved ones and all those working at United Healthcare in Minnesota.”

(Star Tribune reporter Paul Walsh contributed to this report.)

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