The absence of security for Brian Thompson, the late UnitedHealthcare CEO, has left his former bodyguard astonished, especially following Thompson’s fatal shooting that triggered a manhunt in New York City. Philip Klein expressed his disbelief during a Thursday night segment on CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” stating, “It was baffling, to be honest with you.
You know, you get at somebody in the No. 1 health care organization in the United States of America, who is a corporate executive, a high-ranking one, as a matter of fact, just sitting on the board of directors, and he has no protection around him, that is just baffling.”
Former bodyguard reveals disbelief over CEO’s vulnerability before fatal shooting
He further elaborated, “I don’t understand it. We still don’t understand it.” Tragically, Thompson was shot shortly before 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where he was scheduled to address investors at an annual meeting.
New York Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny reported that Thompson sustained gunshot wounds to his right calf and back, leading to his death half an hour later in what law enforcement has classified as a “targeted” shooting.
As the manhunt entered its third day, police continue to search for the suspect who remains at large. Following the shooting, authorities released the gunman’s images and are analyzing fingerprints and DNA collected from a protein bar wrapper and a bottle discovered near the crime scene. They suspect the perpetrator may have fled New York City by bus.
Klein, who leads Klein Investigations, shared his thoughts with CNN host Laura Coates regarding the potential reasons behind Thompson’s lack of a security detail. He suggested, “One, it could have been a personal choice. He may have not liked living in the bubble,” and noted that it’s possible UnitedHealthcare opted not to provide security for him.
While Klein emphasized that he does not know the definitive answer, he remarked on the unusual nature of the situation. “It is highly unusual for the CEO of a multibillion-dollar corporation not to have people around him. It’s just — again, it’s baffling,” he said.
