KILLER HUNT
Cops ‘closing in’ on CEO Brian Thompson’s shooter after he ‘fled on bus to Atlanta’ as FBI offers new $50,000 award
The shooter made a couple of mistakes that have helped investigators with the case
COPS are reportedly closing in on the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as the manhunt enters its fourth day.
The father-of-two was gunned down at point-blank range on the sidewalk outside the New York Hilton on Wednesday morning in what has been called a "brazen and targeted attack."
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Investigators in the police department are confident that they are close to discovering the identity of the suspected assassin, two sources close to the case have told
Cops are focusing on finding the whereabouts of the shooting suspect by using thousands of leads as well as facial recognition software and DNA analysis, the sources revealed.
It comes after his backpack was found, cops probe an alleged burner phone used for a mysterious call and a new clue was revealed about his bus journey.
But, investigators are still working to confirm the information they have been given, so the identity of the suspect has not yet been verified the CNN sources said.
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They have been examining the passenger list of the Greyhound bus that the shooter used to travel to New York City from Atlanta, Georgia, in November but no name has been picked out.
It is believed the man fled the city an hour after killing the 50-year-old health executive on a bus headed toward Atlanta, has reported.
"At this point, we believe he acted alone."
KEY EVIDENCE
As the manhunt continued into its third day, a few breakthroughs were made in the case which has increased the confidence of investigators that the killer will be located soon.
Most read in The US Sun
Mysterious call by Brian Thompson assassin just 15 minutes before killing CEO could be key as cops probe ‘burner phone’
Cops believe they have located the backpack that the shooter was wearing at the time of the attack.
The item was recovered in Central Park near the merry-go-round, near where the suspect was last seen riding an e-bike.
"We do not have his name," Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a briefing on Friday, per the
What we know...
- The killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson remains at large as the manhunt enters its fourth day.
- Security camera images of a smiling man wearing a hooded jacket have been released, while a fake ID, cellphone, and DNA sample have reportedly been found.
- The killer pulled down his face mask while flirting with a hotel receptionist.
- Cops believe the assassin used a rare "World War Two spy gun" fitted with a silencer to kill Thompson.
- The killer fled into Central Park on a bike wearing a backpack but was later spotted leaving without it.
- He arrived in New York last month after boarding a Greyhound bus that originated in Atlanta.
- Terrified CEOs are stepping up their security in the wake of the killing over fears of copycat assassination attempts.
- A $50,000 reward is being offered by the FBI
The backpack was immediately sent to a forensics lab for testing.
At the scene of the shooting, cops also found items that they believe carry the killer's DNA including a water bottle he is believed to have bought in cash just before launching his attack on Thompson.
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A cell phone was also located at the site and could contain touch or skin cell DNA, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN.
These items were scheduled to undergo analysis on Friday, the source said.
UnitedHealth Group Statement on Brian Thompson
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in a brazen attack on December 4 as he was leaving a New York City hotel. Parent company UnitedHealth Group released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
"Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.
"We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.
"Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
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Also bolstering the investigation on Friday, the FBI offered an award of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect's arrest and the Atlanta Police Department officially joined the case.
In the award announcement, the FBI used a CCTV still of the suspect that has been described as a "money shot" picture as they were captured with their mask down.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN that the suspect had been walking around the city "largely in a mask with his face covered.
"We had to go through lots of video evidence to get that one money shot with the mask down."
The mistake was allegedly made by the suspect when a flirty receptionist at the HI New York City Hostel where he was staying allegedly asked him "Can I see your pretty smile?"
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This gave cops their first "significant" lead in tracking down the identity of the suspected killer as he dropped his mask and flashed a smile all on CCTV.
At the hostel, the suspected shooter handed over a fake New Jersey driver's licence to protect his identity.
The FBI's reward comes after NYPD Crime Stoppers offered up to $10,000 for information leading to the killer's arrest and conviction.
'TARGETED' ATTACK
As cops look into tracking down the killer, investigators are also working to establish if a specialized weapon was used to kill the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
The NYPD Chief of Detectives told The New York Times that the shooter may have used a veterinary gun typically used to put down livestock with a 9mm round.
Timeline of Brian Thompson's murder
BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing, and a desperate search is underway for his assassin.
Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far.
Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan.
Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter. The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin.
11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out.
12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot.
2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by.
December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports.
8 am- Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there.
11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured. He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation.
Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting.
December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
"If an animal has to get put down, the animal can be shot without the weapon causing a large noise," Kenny said.
A CNN expert revealed that such a weapon is "practically silent...and it's meant for close-up killing."
No motive has been released yet for the killing, but police believe Thompson was "specifically targeted".
Forensics teams discovered a chilling message left on the bullets the killer used to murder Thompson in cold blood.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The words "deny," "depose," and "defend," were found on live rounds and shell casings at the scene, police sources told the New York Post.
Those words could have been a reference to the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which covered insurance companies and why they refuse to pay claims.
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