‘Net is tightening’ on killer of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson as manhunt goes nationwide: NYC Mayor Adams

The huge pistol utilized by the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not within the backpack recovered in Central Park that police imagine the murderer ditched throughout his breakneck escape out of town, NYPD sources mentioned Saturday.

Just a few articles of clothes have been within the backpack, that are presently being examined for DNA, the sources mentioned. As well as, a high-ranking police supply confirmed that the satchel contained some Monopoly sport cash.

Phrase of the contents of the backpack comes because the FBI supplied $50,000 for details about the masked gunman and the seek for the hooded murderer went nationwide.

“The net is tightening, and we are going to bring this person to justice,” Mayor Adams vowed following a Christmas occasion sponsored by the Police Athletic League Saturday. “This is a horrific incident in our city and we want to make sure this person is removed from the streets of America, not only on the streets of New York.”

Adams wouldn’t say if the NYPD has recognized the CEO shooter, who was photographed smiling at a employee at an Higher West Facet hostel the place he stayed earlier than the killing.

“We don’t want to release that now,” Adams mentioned when requested if detectives knew the suspect’s title. “In the event you do you’re principally giving a tip to the particular person we’re searching for and don’t need to give him an higher hand in any respect.

“Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask,” Adams mentioned. “We’ve already revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and bring him to justice.”

For the final 4 days, detectives have been attempting to determine the weapon the gunman used and have been hoping the triggerman had stored it in his backpack.

The prevailing principle is that the weapon is a B&T Station 6 bolt motion pistol, which is usually utilized by veterinarians, police mentioned.

“We’re looking into the possibility that it could of been one of those,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned at a press briefing at NYPD headquarters Friday. “It’s a weapon commonly used on farms and ranches so an animal could be put down without a lot of noise.”

The feds late Friday started distributing a wished poster with the smiling gunman, hours after Kenny mentioned that the suspect could have jumped on an interstate bus at an uptown Port Authority bus terminal inside 46 minutes of the taking pictures.

Whereas Thompson’s killer could have fled town, the NYPD would nonetheless carry him to justice — regardless of how lengthy it took, Kenny vowed.

“This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to unravel this in 60 minutes,” the Chief of Detectives mentioned as he briefed the press Friday. “We’re painstakingly going by way of each little bit of proof that we come throughout. Ultimately, when a fear is made, we’ll must current all these information to a choose and jury. So we’re taking our time, we’re doing it proper, ensuring we’re going to get justice for this sufferer and closure for his household.”

The FBI has been concerned within the killing since Wednesday, however federal investigators posted the upgraded reward Friday. The NYPD initially supplied a $10,000 reward for info.

#FBINewYork is aiding @NYPDNews in searching for the general public's help in figuring out the unknown suspect chargeable for the taking pictures loss of life of a 50-year-old male sufferer in Midtown Manhattan. https://t.co/VUQtPevCpC pic.twitter.com/gGp8Ss8Qne

— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) December 7, 2024

NYPD detectives, with the assistance of Port Authority police, managed to trace the gunman’s actions from when he first arrived within the metropolis to right away after the lethal taking pictures, when he traveled by numerous means to an uptown bus terminal earlier than vanishing.

“Our detectives are doing a really, very in depth video canvas,” mentioned Kenny. “We’re working from again on the Hilton lodge, from the incident itself all the way in which to uptown Manhattan.”

The suspect shot Thompson, 50, as he walked to a Hilton lodge on W. 54th St. and Sixth Ave. the place he was about to handle colleagues and firm traders at a convention, police mentioned. The taking pictures came about simply blocks from Radio Metropolis Music Corridor and Rockefeller Heart.

Harrowing surveillance footage exhibits the person shoot Thompson within the again, then fireplace three extra occasions, at one level pausing to coolly clear a jam in his pistol, earlier than persevering with to fireside.

Cops discovered the phrases “Deny,” “Delay” and “Depose” written in Sharpie on the bullets — paying homage to the insurance coverage trade mantra “Deny, Delay, Defend” for delaying claims and maximizing income — main police to imagine that the killer has a beef with the medical insurance trade.

The gunman fled the scene on a bicycle and disappeared into Central Park, however cops picked up his path when he was later seen strolling on 86th St. and Columbus Ave. on the Higher West Facet, Kenny mentioned.

In accordance with Kenny, the gunman was lastly seen getting into a cab that dropped him off close to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal at 178th St and Broadway — his final recognized location — round 7:30 a.m., simply 45 minutes after the deadly taking pictures.

“These buses are interstate buses,” Kenny mentioned. “That’s why we imagine he could have left New York Metropolis.”

Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in a Minneapolis suburb, had been with Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for greater than three years. He was scheduled to talk on the firm’s Traders Day on the Hilton simply hours after he was gunned down.

The suspect arrived within the metropolis on a Greyhound bus from Atlanta on the night of Nov. 24, though it wasn’t instantly clear the place the gunman boarded the bus. NYPD detectives are working with Greyhound staff to assist determine all passengers, police sources mentioned.

As soon as within the metropolis, the gunman discovered his technique to the HI New York Metropolis Hostel on Amsterdam Ave. close to W. 104th St., the place cops recovered photos of the suspect with no masks and smiling at somebody behind the reception desk.

Cops launched the photographs Thursday on the second day of the manhunt.

Except for that one slip-up, the gunman by no means revealed his face, together with whereas noshing at a Starbucks or whereas staying within the room within the hostel he shared with two strangers, Kenny mentioned.

“He didn’t know the 2 roommates and your complete time he was there he stored his masks on,” Kenny advised reporters, including the suspect didn’t converse along with his roommates, both.

The suspect booked a room on the hostel utilizing a pretend New Jersey ID, police mentioned. He additionally paid money for the whole lot and didn’t depart a bank card path.

Investigators have examined a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper in a hunt for his DNA. Additionally they have been attempting to acquire further info from a cellphone discovered alongside the gunman’s escape route.

Anybody with info relating to the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls shall be stored confidential.

With Information Wire Companies