NEW: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and k*lled in Manhattan by a man in a black mask.

The 50-year-old CEO was outside of the Hilton hotel when a man came up to him and shot him in the chest.

The masked man, who had a grey backpack on, then fled into a nearby alley.

Thompson was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced d*ad.

“UnitedHealthGroup was scheduled to start its annual Investor Conference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the company,” News 8 reported.