UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down in New York: Who was Brian Thompson?

Here is what we know about Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare who was killed in New York City Wednesday morning.

Police are intensifying their search for a masked gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a busy New York City street Wednesday morning.

Thompson, 50, was a prominent figure in the health-care industry, leading one of the nation’s largest insurers. A married father of two teenage sons, he lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was in New York City to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Midtown.

The attack unfolded just steps from the hotel entrance. Thompson was alone and preparing to enter the building when the gunman shot him in the back, police said. The suspect then fled on foot and escaped on an e-bike into Central Park.

As police continue the search for the shooter, here’s what we know about Thompson’s life and career at UnitedHealthcare.

Thompson went to high school at South Hamilton High School in  Jewell Junction, Iowa.

On Wednesday, the South Hamilton Community School District released a statement on Facebook about the shooting. “The South Hamilton Community School District is deeply saddened and shocked by the death of Brian Thompson, a beloved member of our school community and 1993 valedictorian,” the statement read.

It added that Thompson was a “star student, athlete, homecoming king, and a respected leader. His achievements and character left a meaningful legacy within our schools and community.”

After high school, Thompson began his professional journey as a certified public accountant, graduating from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor of business administration in accounting.