UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York

Brian Thompson, CEO UnitedHealth GroupThe New York Police Department said a man was shot and killed outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning in what appeared to be a “brazen and targeted attack.”

“I want to be clear at this time, all indications are that this was a premeditated, pre-planned and targeted attack,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference on Wednesday following the shooting.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” she added.

Thompson, 50, led UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurance company in the United States, the New York Police Department said. He was on his way to attend UnitedHealth Group's investor day scheduled for Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET at the Hilton Hotel, the NYPD said. The company canceled the event after the shooting.

Patrol officers responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. ET about a person shot in front of the Hilton Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said during the news conference. He added that officers arrived at 6:48 a.m. ET to find Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and leg.

Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET, according to Kenney.

The suspect arrived at the location on foot, approximately five minutes before Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel, and several people passed him while waiting for Thompson to arrive, Kenney said. As Thompson was walking alone toward the Hilton Hotel, the suspect climbed onto the sidewalk from behind a car, approached Thompson from behind, and fired several shots, hitting him at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf, Kenney added.

After the shooting, the suspect fled, first on foot and then on an e-bike, according to Tisch. She said the suspect was last seen in Central Park on Center Drive early this morning. The suspect was wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a “very distinctive” gray backpack, Kenney said.

No arrests have been made. Tish indicated that the New York Police Department had raised the reward in the case to $10,000.

The suspect in the shooting was described as using a firearm equipped with a silencer, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.

A hot dog vendor near the Hilton who was present at 6:30 a.m. ET said he didn't hear any gunshots but noticed a sudden swarm of police. The Hilton concierge, who started his shift at 7 a.m. ET, said everything seemed “pretty normal” at the hotel. Both people requested that their names not be used.

Thompson is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and their two children.

Thompson's wife told NBC News that he had been receiving threats. She said the NYPD told her it was a planned attack.

“Yes, there have been some threats that I don't know basically, is it lack of coverage? I don't know the details,” she told NBC News. “I just know he said there were some people who were threatening him.”

She told NBC News that Thompson has not changed any of his travel habits despite the threats.

“I can't really give a thoughtful response right now,” Paulette Thompson told NBC News. “I just found out about this and I'm trying to console my kids.”

UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the United States based on its revenue and market capitalization of approximately $563 billion. UnitedHealthcare recorded more than $281 billion in revenue last year, making up more than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group's 2023 annual revenue.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group rose more than 1% on Wednesday.

UnitedHealth Group said in a statement on Wednesday that it was “deeply saddened and shocked by the death” of Thompson. The company described him as a “highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.”

“We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time,” UnitedHealth Group said. “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and all those who were close to him.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the company canceled its investor event when it acknowledged a “medical condition” with an employee.

“I'm afraid we are — some of you may know that we are dealing with a very serious medical situation with a member of our team,” CEO Andrew Whitty said during the investor day, according to a transcript. “As a result, I am afraid we will have to end the event today, as I am sure you will understand.”

Thompson has worked at UnitedHealth for just over 20 years, joining the company in April 2004 after spending nearly seven years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, according to his LinkedIn page. He took over as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after serving as CEO of government programs for the insurance unit.

Thompson was a resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and graduated valedictorian from the University of Iowa.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday that she was informed of the shooting and ordered the State Police to provide any necessary assistance to the NYPD in the investigation.

She added: “Our thoughts are with Mr Thompson’s family and loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to justice.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the murder “horrible news and a huge loss to the business and healthcare community” in a Wednesday post on X.

UnitedHealth Group is still grappling with the fallout from a February ransomware attack that targeted its company, Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims. The attack compromised the protected health information of at least 100 million people

This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.

— CNBC's Esther Bloom and NBC News' David K. Li contributed to this report