New York City police were searching the waters of Central Park as authorities continue their investigation into the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to sources.
The police department’s scuba team was searching for evidence, including the gun used in Thompson’s killing, two law enforcement sources said.
The small, elite team is trained specifically in techniques and equipment to recover evidence, the sources said.
Because the waters are likely to be murky, the divers will search in an underwater grid pattern. Their training should also enable them to preserve evidence if it is found underwater, the sources said.
More coverage of Brian Thompson’s killing
Police also conducted two other searches Sunday out of what they said is an abundance of diligence as they continue to seek the weapon, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the search said.
In Fort Tryon Park, gun-detecting police dogs were involved in a search for a weapon, and subway stops near the George Washington Bridge were also searched for the weapon and other evidence, the official said.
None of the searches have yielded a weapon.
The last known location of the person of interest, a Port Authority bus station at the base of the George Washington Bridge, is in the area. Police still believe he left New York City, and they decided to search the areas around it just in case he stashed any evidence, the official said.
The shooting Wednesday galvanized the internet, stirring renewed discourse and criticism of the American health insurance industry.
The gunman, who is still at large, killed Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel before he disappeared into the city, triggering a manhunt.
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Police have released multiple photos of the person of interest wanted for questioning. They said Friday that the gunman may have left New York City through a busy bus terminal.
Police have not released a possible motive. Many online immediately suspected it was related to grievances against UnitedHealthcare’s insurance coverage policies.
The speculation intensified when police said the words “deny,” “delay” and “depose” were written on shell casings found at the crime scene.
A senior official also said a backpack found in Central Park possibly belongs to the shooter. Three sources familiar with the investigation said the backpack contained only a jacket, and two sources said some Monopoly money was in it.
UnitedHealthcare has been hit with complaints from unhappy customers over the years. Thompson’s wife told NBC News that her late husband had received threats, citing “basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage?” He was not traveling with a security detail.
The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the gunman’s arrest — on top of the combined $10,000 already offered by Crime Stoppers and the police department.
Police have received hundreds of tips and are asking the public to call them with any information they think they may have, no matter how trivial it may seem.
