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NEW YORK — NYPD divers were searching a body of water in New York's Central Park on Saturday for the firearm used in the fatal shooting of a health care executive in Manhattan, a law enforcement official told CNN, as the search for the gunman nears the end of its fourth day.
The divers were seen in water known as the Lake, near the park's iconic boathouse and Bethesda Fountain, the official said.
At least two key pieces of evidence in the Wednesday killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson continued to evade investigators Saturday, including an electric bike the suspect rode and the gun used in the killing.
On Friday evening, authorities found a backpack in the park which will be tested at a forensic lab in Queens, a law enforcement official told CNN.
No gun was found in the backpack believed to have belonged to the gunman, law enforcement officials said Saturday. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the bag's origins, an official told CNN Friday.
The Peak Design backpack contained a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, according to the officials. It was not immediately clear if other items were in the backpack, officials said.
Investigators are treating the backpack found in Central Park like a dead body, being very careful not to damage any potential evidence, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The backpack was removed by an excavator along with any physical material found surrounding it, the official said. No officers picked it up, because there may be some DNA evidence tied to the backpack or even the dirt on the ground surrounding it.
Forensic investigators at a police lab in Queens will go through the contents of the bag slowly and deliberately, examining not only the contents but the bag itself, which may contain sweat or other evidence connected to the shooter, the official said.
Meanwhile, federal investigators are assisting the NYPD as they piece together clues, including the backpack, photos, video, ammunition, DNA and more, to help zero in on a suspect they believe is no longer in the city.
The FBI says it is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the gunman.
The shooting suspect, believed to have left New York City on an interstate bus, has not been identified or located following the shooting police believe was "definitely planned," NYPD officials told CNN on Friday.
The suspect traveled to New York City last month on a Greyhound bus that began its route in Atlanta, officials have said.
On Saturday, detectives from the NYPD arrived in Atlanta to help further the investigation, two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told CNN. The Atlanta Police Department has said it is assisting New York police.
NYPD investigators also appear to be getting closer to a possible identification of the suspected shooter, two people briefed on the investigation said late Friday.
While they are working to track the suspect's potential whereabouts with the help of thousands of investigative leads, including traces of DNA which could help find the killer, investigators are still working to verify the information as of Saturday.
"Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said of the suspect. "We're going to reveal who he is, and we're going to bring him to justice."
Investigators are focused on identifying the unmasked man pictured in surveillance images released Thursday which authorities say offers a significant clue in the search. Investigators appear to be homing in on the possible identity of the suspect, two people briefed on the investigation said, but are still working to verify the information and are not yet certain they know his identity.
They are also examining whether the shooter used a specialized weapon in the killing, Joseph Kenny, the chief detective of the NYPD, told reporters Friday.
The gunman who killed Thompson may have used what is known as a veterinary gun, a larger firearm used on farms and ranches to put down animals without causing a loud noise, Kenny, the chief detective of the NYPD, said Friday.
Law enforcement officials have briefed border guards on both sides of the US border with Canada and Mexico to be on the lookout for the suspect, a law enforcement source briefed on the investigation told CNN.
UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare, has mapped out security plans for employees in the wake of the attack.
"We're ensuring the safety, security and wellbeing of our employees," said Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group in an email sent to employees on Thursday and obtained by CNN.
