The search for the gunman who murdered UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson has intensified, with law enforcement expanding efforts to locate the suspect. The New York Police Department (NYPD) released fresh images late Saturday showing the man in the back of a taxi, reportedly fleeing the scene.
The nationwide manhunt is now in its fifth day.
According to Fox News, investigators recovered a backpack believed to belong to the suspect in Central Park. The bag contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but no firearm.
A retired FBI agent explained that the backpack would undergo forensic testing for potential DNA evidence, particularly from areas such as straps and zippers.
Timeline of the killing and escape
Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot Wednesday morning outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan, just before he was due to speak at an investment conference. Surveillance footage captured the shooter, disguised in a hooded jacket, balaclava, and grey backpack, firing multiple times at close range at approximately 6.45 am (local time).
The suspect fled on an electric bike through Central Park, exiting near 77th Street shortly after the attack.
Chief of detectives Joseph Kenny provided a detailed timeline, noting that the suspect was seen entering a taxi near 86th Street at 7.04 am (local time). Police believe he was dropped off at Port Authority bus terminal and left New York City soon after.
The station’s routes connect to destinations including New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
As reported by USA Today, the NYPD revealed the suspect had arrived in New York on November 24 aboard a bus from Atlanta. Investigators found the words “delay,” “depose,” and “deny” written on bullet casings at the crime scene, although no motive has been determined.
Mayor and FBI ramp up efforts
Mayor Eric Adams stated Saturday that the “net was tightening” in the search but declined to confirm whether the suspect’s identity had been established. “We don’t want to release that now,” Adams remarked, emphasising the need to avoid giving the killer an advantage.
The FBI has also increased the reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction to $50,000, adding to the NYPD’s $10,000 reward.
Internet backlash against the health insurance industry
The murder has sparked online criticism of UnitedHealthCare and the broader health insurance industry.
As reported by USA Today, some social media users speculated whether the attack was linked to dissatisfaction with the company’s policies. One commenter described filing claims with the insurer as “a humiliating and godawful slog,” while others expressed anger over corporate profits allegedly tied to denying care.
Wendell Potter, a former CIGNA executive turned whistleblower, noted that the shooting had become an outlet for people’s frustrations with the healthcare system. “This is an opportunity for people to vent and take out their anger against someone who just became known to them all of a sudden,” Potter observed.
As the investigation continues, authorities remain focused on tracking the suspect’s movements, urging the public to come forward with any information that might lead to an arrest.