The New York Police Department on Saturday launched two new photographs of an individual being sought within the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The photographs are the most recent in a collection by the NYPD of the identical particular person wished for questioning in Wednesday’s killing.
The particular person might be seen in one of many photographs by means of the partition of what seems to be a New York City taxi, carrying a blue medical masks and a black hoodie.
The different picture, taken from inside a automobile, reveals the person outdoors the window strolling alongside the automobile whereas carrying the identical blue masks and a dark-colored puffer jacket with the hood pulled over his head.
The NYPD has mentioned investigators have been in a position to observe a few of his actions by taxi.
As the investigation into Thompson’s killing and the manhunt for the gunman carried into Saturday, three sources aware of the probe instructed NBC News there was nonetheless no identification of the particular person of curiosity.
A mixed $60,000 in reward cash is being supplied by the FBI, Crime Stoppers and the NYPD for info resulting in the arrest of the gunman.
Thompson was gunned down outdoors the New York Hilton Midtown lodge as he was on his approach to UnitedHealth Group’s investor convention Wednesday morning, officers have mentioned.
Thompson was shot a minimum of as soon as within the again and as soon as in the best calf. He was not touring with safety.
“Based on the proof we have now up to now, it does seem the sufferer was particularly focused,” Joseph Kenny, NYPD chief of detectives, mentioned earlier within the week. “But at this level, we have no idea why.”
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned Wednesday it was a “premeditated, preplanned focused assault.”
Shell casings discovered on the scene had the phrases “deny,” “delay” and “depose” written on them, police mentioned.
Police additionally discovered a grey backpack in Central Park that the particular person of curiosity was mentioned to be carrying on the time of the slaying. Officials have been wanting into whether or not it was in actual fact the identical bag, two senior legislation enforcement officers instructed NBC News.
A cellphone was discovered by police close to the scene, and investigators are attempting to make use of it to study extra in regards to the man’s contacts and his motion, two sources aware of the probe mentioned.
Four sources aware of the investigation instructed NBC News on Saturday that no gun was discovered within the backpack. Three sources mentioned there was a jacket within the bag, nevertheless it stays unclear whether or not it’s the jacket the gunman wore on the time of the taking pictures.
Authorities consider the person being sought in reference to the killing could have left the state.
Kenny instructed reporters that video reveals the person driving a motorbike in Central Park, then taking a taxi to the Port Authority bus station near the George Washington Bridge.
Investigators are searching for further video to find out if he bought on a bus from there, and in that case which one.
Police consider he could have traveled to New York City from Atlanta final month by Greyhound bus, three senior legislation enforcement officers aware of the case instructed NBC News. The bus arrived in New York on Nov. 24, after making a number of stops alongside the way in which, they mentioned.
Officials in New York are wanting into whether or not they can discover a identify used for the Nov. 24 journey, and each Atlanta police and Greyhound are helping within the probe.
While in New York, the person stayed at a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the NYPD mentioned at a Friday briefing. Authorities are working to find out whether or not he paid in money and used a faux ID to hire a room there.
Roommates on the hostel mentioned he saved his masks on your entire time, even whereas consuming, solely pulling it right down to take a chunk, the NYPD mentioned.
Thompson’s spouse, Paulette Thompson, instructed NBC News on Wednesday that her husband had been receiving threats, however she was unclear of their nature.
“There had been some threats,” she mentioned. “Basically, I don’t know, a scarcity of protection? I don’t know particulars. I simply know that he mentioned there have been some folks that had been threatening him.”
Minyvonne Burke, Phil Helsel, Jonathan Dienst and Tim Stelloh contributed.