HEALTHCARE UNDER FIRE with Dr. Diana Lengel

After fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, here's what we know

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday morning outside of a hotel in New York City, police said. A manhunt is underway to find the gunman, who fled the scene on a bike into Central Park.

Here is what we know so far.

Shooting appeared to be targeted attack

Thompson, 50, suffered gunshot wounds to the back and to the leg at around 6:45 a.m. ET, while outside of the Hilton Midtown hotel in a busy section of Manhattan. Police said they believe this was not a random attack, and that Thompson was targeted. Authorities are searching for a motive.

"We are deeply saddened by this morning's events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy," a spokesperson for the hotel said in a statement.

Investigators have video of the shooting in which the gunman appeared to wait for Thompson for several minutes prior to firing, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a briefing. The gunman arrived at the shooting location on foot about five minutes before Thompson arrived.

The suspect approached Thompson from behind and fired the gun at least twice, striking him in the back and the right calf, according to the police commissioner. The shooter used a silencer, which is a device that acts like a muzzle to reduce the sound of a gunshot. Video shows the suspect fire the gun initially and step toward Thompson, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. The gun appeared to malfunction, but the shooter cleared the jam fairly quickly before firing again. The CEO was not robbed.

"I want to be clear. At this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack," Tisch said. 

The commissioner said the gunman ignored multiple passersby while seemingly lying in wait for Thompson. Another person is also seen in security footage standing against the side of the building between the gunman and Thompson, but just outside of the line of fire. The gunman does not appear to move from his position facing Thompson as the person, apparently realizing there has been a shooting, looks up from their phone and hurries away. 

Police did not respond directly when asked whether Thompson had known enemies prior to his death or been blamed for a health insurance recipient's lack of coverage under UnitedHealthcare — since the latter issue led to protests in Minnesota, where the company is headquartered and where Thompson lived, over the summer. They said investigators were "looking at everything," including the executive's social media, and interviewing his colleagues and family members to work out what circumstances may have led to the incident. NYPD is also connecting with law enforcement in Minnesota.

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