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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend the suspect responsible for the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with the investigation gaining significant traction over the weekend. As reported by The New York Post on Saturday, police divers scoured the waters of Central Park on Saturday in search of the murder weapon, while detectives traveled to Atlanta to secure additional video evidence of the suspect.
In the latest developments, divers concentrated their search efforts around the lake near the Central Park Boathouse, including its foundation and the area surrounding the fountain, according to the information provided in The New York Post report. Although it remains unclear whether the search yielded the gun, investigators believe the park may hold critical evidence in the high-profile case.’
At the same time, law enforcement sources revealed new information about the suspect’s backpack, which reportedly contained a jacket. However, it has not been confirmed whether the jacket matches the one worn by the killer at the time of the crime. Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows the suspect riding an electric bike up Sixth Avenue and into Central Park shortly after the murder, as The New York Post report detailed.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed confidence in the progress of the investigation during remarks at a Police Athletic League holiday party in Harlem. “The net is tightening,” Mayor Adams declared, signaling that police are closing in on the suspect. When asked if investigators had identified the suspect by name, Adams declined to confirm, telling The New York Post, “If we do, we are basically giving a tip to the person we are seeking, and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all.”
Thompson, 50, was fatally shot on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk as he approached an investor event at the Hilton hotel on Wednesday, as per the information in The New York Post report. The prominent healthcare executive, who was not accompanied by a security detail, became the target of what officials are calling a premeditated and brazen attack.
Mayor Adams praised the collaborative efforts of the tri-state law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. “The manner in which they were able to follow his footsteps to recover evidence – some of it is known, some of it is unknown – but the net is tightening, and we’re going to bring this person to justice,” Adams said, as reported by The New York Post.
The investigation has extended beyond New York City, with detectives traveling to Atlanta to obtain additional surveillance footage that could shed light on the suspect’s movements. The New York Post report emphasized that authorities are working meticulously to piece together the killer’s actions leading up to and following the murder, leaving no avenue unexplored.
As the case enters its fourth day, investigators remain tight-lipped about certain details to avoid tipping off the suspect. Mayor Adams reiterated his commitment to ensuring the killer is held accountable, telling The New York Post, “Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask. We revealed his face. We’re going to reveal who he is and we’re going to bring him to justice.”
Surveillance footage later captured the suspect emerging on the other side of Central Park, notably without the backpack he had been seen wearing earlier. Investigators believe this change in appearance was part of a calculated effort to evade identification. The New York Post report further revealed that law enforcement recovered the discarded bag on Friday during an exhaustive grid search of the park, which involved “tons” of officers meticulously combing the area.
Police are working with leads that trace the killer’s travel origins to Atlanta, where the bus he took to New York City began its journey. Officials are searching for additional video evidence in Atlanta, hoping to uncover further clues about his identity and motive. As The New York Post highlighted, the discovery of bullets inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” at the crime scene outside the hotel adds an unsettling dimension to the case, though the exact significance of these messages remains unclear.
In a striking twist, The New York Post reported that the suspect was caught on surveillance smiling at a clerk at an Upper West Side youth hostel before the murder. This footage, along with hundreds of tips from the public, is being analyzed by investigators as they work tirelessly to bring the perpetrator to justice. Adams emphasized the relentless efforts of law enforcement, stating, “Some of these guys have not gone home because we’re going to bring this person to justice.”
The Post report indicated that the investigation has also drawn upon extensive public cooperation, with police meticulously reviewing leads submitted by concerned citizens. Adams reaffirmed the importance of removing the killer from society, declaring, “We want to make sure this person is removed off the streets of America, not only off the streets of New York.”
