Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division, was gunned down outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Thompson was repeatedly shot by a masked gunman at approximately 6:46 a.m.
“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Commissioner Tisch said.
Video footage showed first responders desperately attempting to save Thompson’s life with CPR after he was hit in the torso.
Despite their efforts, Thompson was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m.
The NYPD launched an immediate investigation into the targeted attack, with a manhunt underway for the suspect.
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny, the gunman, described as a white male wearing a dark jacket, black face mask, and black and white sneakers, walked up to the hotel about five minutes before the shooting. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect milling around near the hotel, on Sixth Avenue, before the attack.
Chief Kenny detailed the events surrounding the shooting, stating, “The shooter steps onto the sidewalk from behind the car, he ignores numerous other pedestrians, approaches the victim from behind and shoots him in the back. The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot.”
The suspect’s weapon appeared to have malfunctioned, but he quickly cleared the gun and began firing again.
Thompson suffered gunshot wounds to his back and right calf, Commissioner Tisch said.
The suspect fled the scene on an electric Citi Bike, pedaling up the Avenue of the Americas toward Central Park.
He was last seen biking onto Center Drive at approximately 6:48 a.m.
The NYPD recovered three live 9-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings at the scene.
Chief Kenny emphasized that the motive behind the murder is currently unknown, stating, “The motive for this murder currently is unknown, but 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 is survived by his wife, Paulette ‘Pauley’ Thompson, 51, and two children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Paulette Thompson told NBC News that the family had received threats prior to the attack.
