The man sought in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street was last seen near a Port Authority bus stop 46 minutes after the shocking crime, police said.
Thompson was shot in the back outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York on Wednesday morning on his way to an investor meeting for UnitedHealth Group, officials said.
No arrests have been made. Police believe the person of interest may have left the city.
“At this point, we believe he acted alone,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said Friday.
The man who arrived by bus was staying in a hostel, and his roommate said he wore a mask throughout the meal, only pulling it down to take a bite.
Below is a timeline of the movements of notable figures in New York City as described by Kenney. He said the man’s movements could be seen on video.
Sunday, November 24th
10:11pm: The person arrives in New York City. At the time, video shows him getting off the bus at the Port Authority at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.
Kenney said the bus left Atlanta, but made about six or seven stops along the way, and investigators are unsure where the man got on the bus.
After arriving at the Port Authority, he takes a taxi to a nearby Hilton hotel, where he stays for about 30 minutes.
Around 11 p.m.: He took a taxi to a hostel on Amsterdam Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Friday, November 29th
He was checked out of the hostel, but police believe it was an administrative checkout as he did not show up for work at the scheduled time.
He checked back in, but police believe he was staying elsewhere. He had two roommates that he didn’t know. He kept his mask on the entire time. The man paid in cash but provided identification.
“We believe the identification was fraudulent,” Kenney said.
Wednesday, December 4th
Around 5:30am: He leaves the hostel. Police believe he was riding a bicycle.
5:41 a.m.: Video shows him at the Hilton at 54th Street and 6th Avenue.
“We let him walk around near the hotel, walk up and down 54th Street, up and down,” Kenney said.
At some point a man enters a Starbucks and makes a purchase.
6:44 a.m.: A murder has occurred. Thompson is shot in the back and then multiple times.
Kenney said the words “reject,” “delay,” and “discard” were written on each of the three recovered rounds of ammunition in marker, according to a New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. (Told NBC) News cartridges included “denial,” “defense,” and “expulsion.” )
6:48 a.m.: A man is seen entering Central Park on 60th Street.
6:56 a.m.: He was seen leaving the park in Central Park West on his bicycle.
6:58 a.m.: He’s at 85th Street and Columbus Avenue on his bike.
7 a.m.: He’s heading north on 86th Street, but he doesn’t have his bike anymore.
7:04 a.m.: He is seen getting into a northbound taxi at 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
7:30 a.m.: Sighted near the George Washington Bridge near the Port Authority bus stop.
A total reward of $60,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Mr Kenney said the investigation was ongoing and arduous. The police department in Atlanta, Georgia, where the buses depart for New York City, is assisting the NYPD.
“This is not ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes,” Kenney told reporters Friday. “We are diligently examining all available evidence.”
Kenney said police must present the facts to a judge and jury after an arrest is made.
“We are taking our time to do the right thing and make sure this victim gets justice and her family gets closure,” he said.
