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Backpack linked to CEO killer found in Central Park
Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. But he left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park.
NEW YORK - The gunman suspected of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson left New York City after the murder on a bus headed toward Atlanta, Fox News has learned.
The suspect arrived in New York last month on a bus from Atlanta, authorities previously said.
Police say the search for the suspect has now gone nationwide and the FBI is assisting the NYPD in the manhunt for the gunman.
Video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday's shooting showed him riding a bicycle into Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal that offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C, according to Kenny.
Police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting, leading them to believe he left the city, Kenny said. CNN first reported that the suspect may have escaped the city by bus.
Investigators also believe the shooter left a backpack in Central Park and were carrying out a massive sweep to find it in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called "The Ramble." As dusk approached Friday, small groups of officers could be seen roaming among trees across ground covered with leaves.
Here is the path police believe the killer used to flee:
- The masked gunman shoots and kills Thompson outside a Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets in Midtown at 6:46 a.m.
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Shocking video shows CEO gunned down in 'targeted attack'
Video obtained by FOX 5 NY shows the moment Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
- The gunman continues to walk westbound on 6th Avenue and gets onto a bike. He continues riding northbound toward Central Park.
- He exits the park on bicycle at Central Park West and rides down 77th Street on the Upper West Side.
- The suspect ditches the bike and reportedly walks near 86th Street and Columbus Avenue. From there, he hails a taxi cab, and the taxi cab takes him up to 178th Street and Broadway in Washington Heights.
- From here, he enters the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, a Port Authority bus terminal offering interstate bussing services. The NYPD believe the gunman boarded a bus here and left the city, headed for an unknown location.
Officers give chest compressions after Thompson was shot
How did the gunman get to New York?
Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to New York last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta, according to the law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Once in New York, he appeared to pay with cash in any establishment where he was captured on camera, the official said.