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The search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan is now in its third day, with police working to identify the man by piecing together his movements and whereabouts in the days leading up to the shooting.
Investigators now believe that the gunman may have traveled to New York City from Atlanta 10 days before the shooting. They are also working to find a name associated with Greyhound bus tickets purchased for a Nov. 24 trip, NBC News reported, citing three senior law enforcement officials familiar with the case. Greyhound said it is cooperating with the investigation.
Police are also looking into whether the shooter used a fake ID to rent a room at a hostel in Manhattan’s Upper West Side and paid for it in cash, two law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News.
On Thursday, police released new photos of a person of interest in the case whom they are seeking for questioning related to the shooting.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN Friday afternoon that police believe the person of interest in the photo has left New York City, citing footage obtained so far that last shows the person at a Port Authority bus station for interstate buses.
The new details follow earlier reporting that shell casings found at the scene of the shooting had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them — words similar to the title of a 2010 book about insurance companies denying customers’ claims. Police have said there is currently no known connection to that book.
Prior to the shooting, the gunman bought a bottle of water and two protein bars from a nearby Starbucks and later discarded them, a senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News. Those items have been collected as evidence, the official said.
Police believe that the shooting may have been a targeted attack, but no motive has been determined. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News on Wednesday that he had been receiving threats.
His family said in a statement Thursday that they are “shattered” by his death and requested “complete privacy.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.