The CEO of America's largest health insurance company was assassinated.

(CLO) Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth, the largest health insurance company in the United States, was shot and killed by a masked assailant in what appeared to be an assassination Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan.

Thompson, 50, was shot at approximately 6:45 a.m. local time outside the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, just before the company's annual investor conference. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said the gunman is still at large and they are investigating the motive.

"This does not appear to be a random act of violence," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference. "All indications point to this as a deliberate, premeditated attack."

Police sealed off the scene of the assassination. Photo: AP

Police said the masked suspect, wearing a grey backpack, fled on foot before getting on an electric bike and riding into Central Park.

CEO Thompson's wife, Paulette, told NBC News that he had received several threats, although she did not know the specifics.

"Basically, I don't know, lack of insurance?" she said, seemingly alluding to a potential motive related to insurance. "I don't know the details. I only know that he said some people had threatened him."

UnitedHealth is the largest health insurance company in the United States, providing services to tens of millions of Americans – who pay more for healthcare than people in any other country.

The company is also grappling with the aftermath of a massive data breach at its Change Healthcare unit, which disrupted medical care for patients and the payment of doctors' salaries for months.

CCTV footage of the perpetrator. Photo: US Police

The gunman arrived outside the Hilton hotel about five minutes before Thompson, and he ignored other people walking by. He then shot Thompson in the back as he walked past, according to New York Police Department Detective Chief Joseph Kenny, who spoke to reporters.

According to surveillance video , the handgun appeared to be fitted with a silencer. Investment analyst Michael Ha of Baird, who attended the UnitedHealth event, said people were frightened, confused, and crying in the hotel hallway.

Following the assassination, UnitedHealth removed photos of its leaders from its website.

Bui Huy (based on Reuters, AP, CNN)

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