Killing of CEO in New York highlights anger and danger for US health insurers

Just before the sun rose over New York, Brian Thompson was walking a sidewalk in downtown Manhattan when he was unexpectedly caught in a lethal ambush.

As the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a massive health insurance firm, the father of two had traveled from Minnesota to attend a conference.

After Apple, Amazon, and Walmart, its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, is the fourth-largest money-maker in America.

It was supposed to give investors a $US450 billion ($705 billion) revenue projection for the upcoming year.

At 6:45 a.m., CCTV footage shows Thompson, 50, walking up to the lobby of the Midtown Hilton hotel, the conference location.

In the corner of the picture, a man in a black hoodie suddenly emerges. He lifts a gun that looks to have a hitman-style silencer attached to it.

The suspect is seen outside the Hilton, shooting at Mr Thompson. (Reuters/NYPD News)

Thompson was lying on the sidewalk as the gunman approaches him, ignoring a bystander who is seen fleeing. He shoots him once more, then runs across the street to make his getaway.

According to investigators, the suspect rode into Central Park on an e-bike after running through an alley.

Police said they think he took a taxi to a bus station on Friday, local time, when he probably got on a bus and left New York City.

However, local news reports state that he left a message.

On gunshot shells discovered at the crime site, investigators discovered three words inscribed on them.

“Deny.” “Defend.” “Depose.”