Killing of Brian Thompson

Brian Robert Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare — the insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group — was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4, 2024, outside an entrance to the New York Hilton Midtown, where he was arriving for an annual UnitedHealth Group investors' meeting. According to police accounts, an assailant, initially described as a white man wearing a mask, waited across the street before crossing over and firing three shots at Thompson from about 20 feet away using a suppressed 9 mm pistol, striking him in the back and calf. Thompson was taken to Mount Sinai West hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy reportedly attributed his death to a gunshot wound to the back of the torso. The words "delay," "deny," and "depose" were found inscribed on cartridge cases at the scene, echoing a phrase used by critics of the health insurance industry. The shooter fled by e-bike into Central Park, discarded a backpack, and left the city via the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.

Thompson had led UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the U.S., since 2021 and had worked for the company since 2004. The company had faced public criticism over claim-denial practices, including scrutiny from a U.S. Senate subcommittee report and news investigations. According to Thompson's widow, he had received threats related to lack of insurance coverage.

On December 9, 2024, authorities arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee recognized him from released images. Police said he was carrying a 3D-printed pistol and suppressor consistent with the weapon used in the shooting, a handwritten document critical of the American healthcare system, an American passport, and fraudulent identification documents, including one matching the name used to check into a Manhattan hostel. Authorities said fingerprints recovered near the crime scene matched Mangione. He was first charged in Pennsylvania with weapons and forgery-related offenses, then charged in Manhattan with second-degree murder and related counts. He was later indicted on eleven state charges, including first-degree murder as an act of terrorism, and four federal charges including stalking and murder through use of a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty in New York state court. In September 2025, the terrorism-related state murder charges were dismissed, leaving a second-degree murder charge; in January 2026 a judge dismissed two federal charges, ruling prosecutors could not seek the death penalty, after Attorney General Pam Bondi had earlier directed prosecutors to pursue it.

The killing drew intense national attention and polarized public reaction. Polling found majorities of Americans viewed the killing as unacceptable, while younger respondents were more divided, and many respondents believed insurance claim denials and industry profits contributed to Thompson's death. Social media reactions ranged from expressions of sympathy for Thompson's family to mockery of UnitedHealthcare and public support for Mangione, including fundraising campaigns for his legal defense. UnitedHealth Group faced increased scrutiny, stock decline, and leadership changes following the killing, and various public officials condemned the violence while some also used the moment to criticize the U.S. health insurance industry.