In what is believed to be a breakthrough into the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the New York Police released the images of a man on Friday. It is important that the man is identified and brought in for questioning at the earliest to crack the case, the cops believe.
Brian Thompson was shot multiple times in full public view in Manhattan on Wednesday. The crime was caught on camera and the video revealed how the masked shooter waited for the UHC CEO outside the Hilton Midtown early in the morning and used an electric bike to flee the scene after shooting Thompson multiple times.
A Minnesota resident, Brian Thompson was on his way to the hotel to attend his company’s annual investor conference when gunned down. Although rushed to the hospital, the doctors couldn't save his life.
Flirting undo all hard work to hide face?
The latest development in the investigation, according to the police, is identifying a person of interest from the CCTV visuals at a local hospitality facility. The man donning a hoodie had a mask on his face almost always but brought it down for a moment. A CCTV camera was positioned nearby, catching his face, the New York Police said while releasing the photo.
Residing at a hostel on the Upper West Side in New York, the man lowered his mask and gave away his face to interact with a young female staff. The lady reportedly asked the man to lower his mask for a moment and sensing what was happening, he quickly did as asked. What is being labelled as "a good-humoured" "little flirtation" between the two, the face of the man became fully exposed before the camera. If not for this rare incident, the probe team would still be in the dark, the police department reportedly admitted.
Investigators also have a trail of surveillance video sightings and a burner phone and water bottle believed to have been dropped by the suspect when he fled the shooting scene – first on foot then by bike – as well as ammunition with the words “depose” and “delay” written on them left at the scene of the crime, sources told CNN.
What do we know so far about Brian Thompson's killing?
Police believe the assailant arrived in New York City 10 days before Wednesday's shooting. He checked into an Upper West Side hostel, CNN quoted a police source as saying. The suspected shooter roamed around the city for days but always ensured he wore a mask during his stay at the hostel. He was housed in a multi-person room with two other males, the news report said.
Apart from the CCTV, the cops also found a water bottle that he left on the crime scene before vanishing. Bullets with the words “depose” and “delay” written on them were left at the scene where Brian Thompson breathed his last.