The UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect is seen here in new images released by the NYPD.
The images appear to show a man in and around a vehicle, both while wearing a black, hooded padded jacket and a blue medical mask. Police believe the images show the suspect after the shooting in a new set of clothes inside a taxi which reportedly picked him up on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue after he left Central Park following the shooting of Brian Thompson.
On Friday night divers were also seen searching a Central Park lake, a day after a backpack and clothes were found dumped. The bag was reportedly found stuffed with Monopoly money as divers search Central Park lake.
READ MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter’s bag ‘found stuffed with Monopoly money’ as divers search Central Park lake
READ MORE: NYPD ‘set to reveal Brian Thompson killer’s ID’ as mayor vows ‘net is tightening’ on gunman
NYPD divers were spotted in the water known as the Lake, near the parks iconic boathouse and Bethesda Fountain, the official said. Since the brazen shooting early Wednesday morning, it has been reported that police have recovered two pieces of crucial evidence that might help discover the identity of the attacker.
One piece of evidence recovered was the e-bike the killer allegedly took after shooting the 50-year-old health executive. The second piece of evidence was a backpack which reportedly contained a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, according to the officials. It was also reported that police discovered an abandoned cell phone in an alley near the murder scene, which police believe to be the shooter’s as he allegedly placed a mysterious phone call 15 minutes before the assassination.
Police are hoping that the ever-growing mountain of evidence will eventually lead to an arrest. It’s not yet known who the call was placed to nor if there’s a recording of it, but former NYPD investigator Paul Mauro told Fox News that the device could still be used to trace the call and determine who was on the receiving end.
The shooter may have fired with a ‘veterinary gun’ used for putting down animals, Joseph Kenny, New York Police Department chief of detectives, told The New York Times.
If an animal has to get put down, the animal can be shot without the weapon causing a large noise, Kenny said. The video of the fatal shooting shows the suspect emerging from behind a car after Brian Thompson walked past him. The shooter then aims and fires the weapon hitting Thompson several times in the back and the leg, according to NYPD.
The gun appeared to jam during the shooting but the assailant was able to clear it and continue firing before fleeing the scene. He was last seen riding into Central Park on an e-bike. A former NYPD detective said he is “amazed at the level of proficiency” of the suspect.
Speaking about the attack, Felipe Rodriguez, told CBS: “The way he planned this out, I can see him having a change of clothes hidden in Central Park. He’s aware of the cameras he had that mask on, he’s obviously trying to hide his identity.” Felipe said it was “one of the most detailed assassinations I’ve ever seen”.
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