# UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in Manhattan \[breaking news: 2024-12-04\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [December 4, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159 "2024-12-04T16:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/1 "2024-12-04T16:11:53Z")
[News reports are that this appears to be a targeted attack.](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/04/nyregion/brian-thompson-uhc-ceo-shot?unlocked_article_code=1.e04.rs3b.p78ebjPr8qvc&smid=url-share) (gift link) CEO Brian Thompson (age 50) was in Manhattan for an investor meeting at the New York Hilton Midtown and was gunned down as he was about to enter the building. The masked gunman shot him multiple times and fled the scene on a bicycle. Police will be holding a press conference around 11:30am Eastern. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/2 "2024-12-04T16:40:34Z")
He probably denied coverage to the wrong person. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/3 "2024-12-04T16:54:16Z")
Yeah, the list of suspects here must be about 100 miles long. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/4 "2024-12-04T16:56:08Z")
That’s an outright assassination and almost certainly because of a health care situation of themselves or a loved one. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/5 "2024-12-04T17:04:19Z")
Press conference just ended. It appears they recovered 3 spent shells and 3 cartridges that were ejected. Apparently the gun jammed repeatedly and the gunman was able to clear it each time and still get off 3 shots. They fled into Central Park on an E-bike. Also, a cell phone was recovered in a nearby alley. Police are currently going through it to see what they can find. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/6 "2024-12-04T17:05:09Z")
Yeah, my daughter asked, “what did he do to make enemies?”, and i replied, “it was probably because he’s the CEO of one of the largest health insurance companies.” I mean… it could be an angry ex. But my money is on a disgruntled policyholder. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/7 "2024-12-04T17:06:35Z")
The estate is gonna get soaked if they took him to an out-of-network hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/8 "2024-12-04T17:13:42Z")
AH!! 🤣 I love gallows humor. 😈 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/9 "2024-12-04T17:17:23Z")
I sense a Law and Order episode coming in a month or so. Oh, wait, already done. > **["Law & Order" Undercovered (TV Episode 2002) ⭐ 7.3 | Crime, Drama, Mystery](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0629482/)** > > 43m | TV-14 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/10 "2024-12-04T17:22:51Z")
Why bother? They’ll be another asshole doing his job by close of business today ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/11 "2024-12-04T17:23:29Z")
He was set to announce that profits exceeded expectations. Stock is up 2% at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/12 "2024-12-04T17:29:34Z")
While it’s not impossible that he was murdered by an angry policyholder, it seems less likely to me than some other possibilities (for one thing, CEO’s don’t make decisions on individual coverage issues). UnitedHealth Group has been under antitrust scrutiny over recent acquisitions, dropping two takeover plans and now embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking [acquisition of a major competitor](https://www.bipc.com/department-of-justice-blocks-unitedhealth-group’s-$3.3-billion-acquisition-of-amedisys). Plenty of potential intrigue there involving someone at a rival firm or investor. Or something even more personal involving love, jealousy or money. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/13 "2024-12-04T17:31:42Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > While it’s not impossible that he was murdered by an angry policyholder, it seems less likely to me than some other possibilities (for one thing, CEO’s don’t make decisions on individual coverage issues). Because enraged assassins employ this logic? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/14 "2024-12-04T17:34:12Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > He was set to announce that profits exceeded expectations. Stock is up 2% at the moment. He beat the Street. But then again … ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/15 "2024-12-04T17:40:57Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > it seems less likely to me than some other possibilities (for one thing, CEO’s don’t make decisions on individual coverage issues). Assassination is a symbolic act, not a functional one. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/16 "2024-12-04T17:42:07Z")
We’ll get a manifesto soon enough and then all will be clear, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/17 "2024-12-04T17:42:15Z")
I doubt that his death will change the direction of UHC. The murder was almost certainly a crime of passion (or revenge), not some cold blooded attempt to undo a business deal. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/18 "2024-12-04T17:43:50Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > It appears they recovered 3 spent shells and 3 cartridges that were ejected. Apparently the gun jammed repeatedly and the gunman was able to clear it each time and still get off 3 shots. An interesting tidbit. More likely misfired than jammed. To accomplish that quickly in the heat of the moment and three times to boot suggests the killer had some actual firearms skill. Not just some angry goofball who finally lost it and bought a gun, any gun, yesterday on his way into town. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/19 "2024-12-04T17:44:53Z")
Some angry goofball with gun experience, then ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/20 "2024-12-04T17:45:08Z")
I suppose we’ll find out. Links to both UnitedHealthcare and UnitedHealth Group’s leadership pages now go to “Page Not Found”. 🤔 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=2)