The New York Police Department is using every resource available to continue the search in the Central Park Boathouse pond for the murder weapon used in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The New York Post reported that NYPD divers plunged into the murky waters of the Central Park Boathouse pond this weekend in a detailed search for clues that could lead them to the murderer of Brian Thompson.
Thompson, aged 50, was tragically shot with a veterinarian gun while heading to a business meeting outside the New York Hilton Midtown.
The search began on Sunday and continued through Monday, focusing on locating the gun used in the crime. Despite their efforts, the divers have yet to recover the murder weapon.
In an effort to find any discarded evidence, the suspect, who remains at large, is believed to have thrown the gun into the pond. This has led the NYPD to also deploy gun-sniffing dogs in Fort Tryon Park, although no firearms were located there either.
The investigation has also involved the collection and analysis of video surveillance and physical evidence from the area. New surveillance images have revealed the suspect exiting a taxi at 2372 Amsterdam Avenue, near the George Washington Bridge bus terminal.
Despite extensive video surveillance in the area, the suspect was not captured on video leaving the Amsterdam Avenue site on foot.
A manager of a nearby apartment building confirmed, “The detectives searched through all of our video on Friday. They didn’t have any luck. They never saw him.”
A critical piece of evidence, a backpack believed to belong to the suspect, was discovered in the park. The backpack contained a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and fake Monopoly money, adding a peculiar twist to the ongoing investigation.
The bullet casings found at the scene bore unique inscriptions such as “depose,” “delay,” and “deny,” linking them to a controversial book critical of the health industry.
This could suggest a motive but has yet to lead to any conclusive evidence regarding the suspect’s identity or whereabouts.
Mayor Eric Adams commented on the search efforts, stating, “The net is tightening,” indicating increased confidence in the ongoing manhunt for the killer.
The manhunt entered its fifth day, with NYPD divers set to resume their search in the pond. The community remains on edge as the search for the suspect continues, with Thompson’s murder drawing significant media attention and public concern.
After the initial shooting, the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle, heading towards Central Park, and subsequently took a cab, complicating the pursuit efforts by law enforcement.
The intense search involves multiple NYPD units and has seen the community and local businesses cooperating closely with the investigation, hoping for a swift resolution to this tragic event.