UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: Suspect left New York City by bus, police say

The man suspected of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel took a taxi to the Port Authority bus facility at 178th Street and boarded a bus out of New York City following the shooting, according to police. The unidentified man remains at large in the wake of Wednesday's attack, which was described by police as "brazen, targeted" and "premeditated." Police have not recovered the shooter's backpack and are searching Central Park on Friday afternoon, police said. MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect's movements: A timeline of before, during, after the shooting The killer entered New York City by bus on Nov. 24, when a surveillance camera at Port Authority Bus Terminal caught his arrival at 9 p.m., law enforcement sources told ABC News. The inbound bus originated in Atlanta but it was not immediately clear where the suspected boarded. Sources told ABC News he was spotted on board in Washington, D.C. The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify this person wanted for questioning in the Midtown Manhattan murder of a CEO on Dec. 4, 2024. NYPD Police are investigating whether the suspect left New York City by bus on Wednesday after the murder. The 10-day period he was in New York City before the shooting is the focus of investigative efforts. Police released photos of a suspect sought in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. NYPD Police have collected video of the suspect all over the city, including in the subway, in cabs and in a McDonald’s, sources told ABC News. In each place, he paid with cash and he made sure to keep his mask on, which indicates to detectives he knew he was coming to New York City to commit the murder, sources said. Police were able to find a surveillance image of the suspect without his face mask on because he was flirting with the woman who checked him into a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side, police sources said. As he stood at the check-in desk, the sources said the woman asked to see his smile. The shooter obliged, pulling down his mask long enough for the surveillance camera to capture his face. Police have determined the suspect checked into the hostel using a New Jersey license that wasn’t his own, police sources told ABC News. The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify this person wanted for questioning in the Midtown Manhattan murder of a CEO on Dec. 4, 2024. NYPD MORE: Who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? What we know about the suspect on the run The masked gunman shot Thompson at point-blank range at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where Thompson was heading for his company's investors conference. "The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues to shoot," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. "It appears that the gun malfunctions, as he clears the jam and begins to fire again." This undated photo provided by UnitedHealth Group shows UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson. UnitedHealth Group via AP MORE: 'Deny,' 'defend' and 'depose': Police investigating words found on shell casings in CEO shooting, sources say Written on the shell casings were the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” according to police sources. The words on the bullets echo the title of the 2010 book "Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It." Police are aware of the similarity, and are investigating whether one possible motive is anger at the insurance industry, sources said. 6:15am – the suspect appears to exit the 57th Street subway station on foot, wearing a gray backpack. Christopher Hamel Investigators believe they were able to score DNA samples from several pieces of evidence discovered at or near the crime scene, law enforcement sources told ABC News. The samples are currently at the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to be run through databases for a possible match -- a process that could take several days, the sources said. Police were also able to extract a fingerprint off a water bottle the suspect bought at a Starbucks, but the print is smudged so it's not clear how helpful it will be, sources said. Police place bullet casing markers outside of a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan where United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images MORE: Fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson prompts wake-up call for nation's executives: Experts The suspect fled on foot and then fled north on a bike and rode into Central Park, police said. After leaving Central Park, he took the cab to the bus terminal. Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. ABC News UnitedHealth Group said in a statement that its "hearts are broken" and that they have been "touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support." Recent Stories from ABC News symbol 00:10 02:24 Read More "So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out. We are thankful, even as we grieve,” UnitedHealth Group, parent company of UnitedHealthcare, said. "Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice." "We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care," the statement continued. "We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend." Related Topics UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting ABC News Sponsored Content by Taboola California Introduces New Rules for Senior Drivers TheWalletWatcher.com Amazon's Worst Nightmare: Thousands Canceling Prime for This Clever Hack Consumigo Here Are 29 of the Coolest Gifts for This 2024 Trending Gifts JonBenet Ramsey case: Progress being made, sources say Who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? 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