Breaking news in the insurance industry! The CEO of UnitedHealth Group was assassinated in New York, and investors' day activities have been urgently canceled

On Wednesday morning Eastern Time, Brian Thompson, CEO of the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. CNBC cited sources familiar with the matter stating that the incident is believed to be a targeted attack. The suspect is described as a white male, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and black sneakers (with white trim), carrying a gray backpack. Following the shooting, UnitedHealth Group canceled its scheduled "Investor Day" event. After rising over 2.9% in early trading on Wednesday, UnitedHealth (UNH) gave back most of its gains. Public records show that the UnitedHealthcare led by Thompson is the largest private health insurance company in the United States, with revenue exceeding $281 billion last year, accounting for more than two-thirds of UnitedHealth Group's total annual revenue in 2023. Thompson's LinkedIn page indicates that he joined UnitedHealthcare in April 2004 after working for nearly seven years at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, and he has worked there for over 20 years. He became the company's CEO in April 2021, having previously served as the top executive for government programs in the insurance division. A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department confirmed that a 50-year-old male was shot at 6:46 AM on Wednesday in front of 1335 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. However, the spokesperson did not confirm the identity of the male. The official report from the NYPD stated that when emergency personnel arrived on the scene, the man was already unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest. Paramedics transported the man to Mount Sinai West, but he was pronounced dead. Police stated that no arrests have been made, and the case is still under investigation. A hot dog vendor near the Hilton Hotel reported that he was present at 6:30 AM but did not hear gunshots, only noticing a sudden influx of police. A Hilton hotel doorman who started work at 7:00 AM said everything at the hotel appeared "fairly normal." UnitedHealth Group had originally planned to hold its Investor Day event at the Hilton Hotel in New York. However, the company did not confirm the shooting during the event but canceled it after confirming that an employee was experiencing a "medical emergency." Staff at UnitedHealth Group stated during the event: "I’m sorry, some of you may know that we are dealing with a very serious medical situation involving a team member. For this reason, I’m afraid we must conclude today’s event early, and I hope everyone can understand."