UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot in a brazen attack outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday, was under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential insider trading and antitrust violations at the time of his death, the New York Post reports.
Stock Sales Raise Questions Amid Federal Probe
In February, less than two weeks before news of a federal antitrust investigation became public, Thompson exercised stock options and sold shares valued at $15.1 million, according to a report from Crain’s New York Business. The probe centers on whether UnitedHealthcare engaged in acquisitions that illegally consolidated its market dominance.
Thompson wasn’t alone in the lucrative transactions. Alongside UnitedHealth Group chairman Stephen Helmsley and other top executives, the group reportedly sold shares totaling $101.5 million, with Helmsley personally netting nearly $85 million.
Corporate governance expert Charles Elson noted that such trades typically undergo legal scrutiny to ensure compliance with disclosure rules. However, these sales—timed shortly before the company’s stock price fell amid the probe—are now under intensified examination.
Targeted Attack Sparks Manhunt
Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue around 6:46 a.m. Surveillance footage shows the masked shooter calmly waiting for his target before executing the attack with a silenced weapon. After firing multiple shots, the gunman fled on an e-bike, disappearing into Central Park.
The NYPD is investigating the killing as a targeted attack and has linked it to a cryptic message. Words engraved on shell casings—“deny,” “depose,” and “defend”—echo the title of a book critical of the insurance industry, Delay, Deny, Defend.
A Company Under Fire
Thompson’s murder comes as UnitedHealth grapples with a series of controversies. Earlier this year, the company faced one of the largest healthcare data breaches in U.S. history, exposing sensitive information for nearly a third of Americans. The ransomware attack forced UnitedHealth to pay hackers a $22 million ransom, with financial losses estimated at $705 million.
As the DOJ probe continues, the assassination has cast a spotlight on the pressures facing healthcare executives in an industry rife with public scrutiny and regulatory challenges.
Investigators Close In
The NYPD has released surveillance images of the suspected gunman captured at a nearby Starbucks before the shooting. A discarded coffee cup and water bottle have been recovered as evidence, along with a phone found near the crime scene.
Authorities have yet to determine the full motive behind the assassination, but Thompson’s wife, Paulette, confirmed the family had received threats in the weeks leading up to his death. “There had been some threats,” she said. “I don’t know if it was related to his work or something else.”
As investigators work to untangle the layers of this shocking crime, UnitedHealth has lowered flags to half-staff in honor of their fallen CEO, a leader who leaves behind a wife, two sons, and a trail of unanswered questions.
