The investigation into the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson took a significant turn on Friday when police discovered a backpack allegedly linked to the suspected gunman in Central Park. The discovery comes three days after Thompson was fatally shot in a chilling ambush outside his company’s investor conference in Manhattan.
The backpack, which the gunman was seen carrying during the attack, was found after an intense search of the park’s sprawling grounds. Authorities did not disclose its contents but confirmed it is being analysed for critical evidence, according to a report from AP.
Chief of detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that the suspect likely left New York City shortly after the murder, boarding a bus from a terminal serving destinations like Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D C. Surveillance footage shows the masked shooter cycling into Central Park after the shooting, then taking a taxi to the bus terminal.
Timeline of the incident
The gunman arrived in New York on November 24, ten days before the attack, travelling on a bus from Atlanta. Police are still determining where he boarded. He paid in cash and used a fake ID to check into a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, near Columbia University.
On the morning of the murder, the shooter was captured on security cameras at a Starbucks and later in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. Witnesses reported he wore a mask at all times, except for one instance in the hostel lobby where photos show him smiling while flirting with an employee.
The shooting took place on Wednesday outside a hotel near Rockefeller centre. The gunman approached Thompson from behind, firing several shots with a silencer-equipped weapon. The killer briefly paused to clear a jam before fleeing as the 57-year-old executive collapsed on the sidewalk.
Clues and theories
Police are exploring whether the gunman, whose identity and motive remain unknown, may have been a disgruntled employee or client. A potential clue emerged from the ammunition used: the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” were scrawled on bullets, echoing a phrase used to criticise insurance companies for denying claims and delaying payments.
Investigators have tested DNA from a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper found along the escape route. A cellphone recovered nearby is also being analyzed for leads.
Detectives are scrutinising a possible link to a veterinary pistol, a tool commonly used for euthanising animals, though this remains unconfirmed.
Impact on corporate America
The brazen killing has shaken corporate America, particularly the health insurance sector. UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, has ramped up security measures and offered support to Thompson’s family.
A Minnesota-based healthcare company has temporarily closed its offices out of caution, directing employees to work remotely.
Thompson, a father of two from a Minneapolis suburb, had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as its CEO for over three years. His death has prompted widespread grief and a reevaluation of security protocols across the industry.
Ongoing investigation
Chief Kenny emphasised the complexity of the case. “This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not solving this in 60 minutes,” he said, adding that detectives are meticulously piecing together evidence to ensure justice for Thompson’s family.
As police continue their painstaking investigation, the discovery of the backpack offers hope that the killer’s trail may yet lead to an arrest.