As the search for the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case enters its third day, authorities now believe the person of interest may have left New York City. The NYPD has stated that after biking out of Central Park, the suspect hailed a cab to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station and likely boarded a bus out of town. The FBI has joined the manhunt and is now pursuing leads across the country, with sightings reported in cities like Atlanta and states such as Texas.
According to information provided by ABC News, a backpack suspected to belong to the shooter was found in Central Park and is undergoing forensic analysis. The suspect is seen without the backpack in video footage 15 minutes after the crime, pointing to the possibility that the backpack, discovered by police using drones, may contain valuable evidence. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest. In another careless act, the person of interest used a fake New Jersey license to check into the HI New York City Hostel, further complicating the investigation.
Surveillance footage has documented the suspect's movements extensively, from subway rides to cab travels, with each transaction paid in cash and his mask kept firmly positioned on his face. NYPD's Crime Stoppers bureau has been inundated with tips, as detectives work round the clock in hopes of narrowing down the suspect's whereabouts during the 10-day window leading up to the murder of Brian Thompson.
Further investigations have revealed new images of the suspect taken at the HI New York City Hostel, showing him unmasked and seemingly engaged in a casual interaction with the front desk clerk. CBS News reports a law enforcement official stating that the moment was a "flirtatious moment" where the clerk asked the suspect to "see his pretty smile," capturing a potentially key image for identifying the person of interest.
