New York City police are on the hunt for the gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thomson, 50, earlier this week. Authorities now believe the suspect may have left the city, possibly boarding an interstate bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Thomson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit, was shot in the back on Wednesday in what police describe as a targeted attack. The suspect fled the scene on an electric bicycle, disappearing into Central Park.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed on Friday that new video footage shows the suspect getting into a taxi that took him to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. "We have video of him entering the Port Authority Bus Terminal. We don’t have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
The suspect’s possible departure from New York City has widened the search. Police have released multiple photos of the suspect and are urging the public to help track him down.
Security experts warn that the first 48 hours after such a crime are critical. "The clock is running," said Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "They still haven’t recovered the gun, the bicycle, the backpack. The longer it takes, they could be losing vital pieces of evidence."
Rodriguez likened solving the case to assembling a complex jigsaw puzzle. "You start from the edges first and work your way in, but right now they might not have all the pieces. But the case is moving forward," he added.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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UnitedHealthcare CEO killer may have left New York City, police say
cgtn.com
