The manhunt for the cold-blooded murderer who gunned down UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown entered its second day Thursday — and investigators haven’t any scarcity of clues.
Past the chilling first picture exhibiting the masked suspect’s face — during which he grins broadly — NYPD detectives and FBI brokers ran down leads and processed a path of proof they hope will result in still-unidentified killer.
Listed here are the foremost clues:
A uncommon World Warfare II spy gun
The killer might have used a contemporary model of a uncommon World Warfare II spy gun, and investigators hope to trace down its buy, sources instructed The Put up.
The gun utilized by the shooter within the slaying outdoors the Hilton lodge on Sixth Avenue seems to be a B&T VP9, an replace of the Welrod pistol — a suppressed firearm developed within the Second World Warfare, sources mentioned.
A current buy of that gun by a Connecticut-based gunmaker was an investigative lead within the manhunt, in line with sources.
However the killer’s gun had nonetheless not been recovered almost two days after the capturing, making the hyperlink lower than definitive.
Disturbing surveillance video depicting the capturing confirmed the gunman use a pistol with a silencer, racking its slide seemingly expertly with every shot.
An Higher West Aspect hostel
Investigators monitoring the suspected killer’s path by means of Manhattan have been led to the HI New York Metropolis Hostel alongside Amsterdam Avenue on the Higher West Aspect, sources mentioned.
The surveillance picture exhibiting the suspect’s full, smiling face have been taken within the hostel, the sources mentioned.
A swarm of plainclothes NYPD cops and FBI brokers searched the hostel Wednesday, residents instructed The Put up.
The suspect seems to have used a pretend New Jersey ID to test into the hostel on Nov. 30, sources mentioned.
However investigators additionally discovered indicators the killer had been in New York Metropolis since Nov. 24, although it’s unclear the place he was staying earlier than he checked into the hostel, in line with sources.
Search continues for killer’s getaway electrical bicycle, backpack
The electrical bicycle that the gunman rode up Sixth Avenue and into Central Park after coolly slaughtering Thompson at round 6:46 a.m. nonetheless remained lacking Thursday.
NYPD officers initially recognized the killer’s experience as a Citi Bike, however representatives from dad or mum firm Lyft later mentioned that police confirmed they now not consider the suspect used considered one of their bicycles.
A law-enforcement supply mentioned the suspect might have taken the subway from the hostel, carrying a backpack with a battery for the bike.
Video that emerged Thursday confirmed the suspect casually strolling out of what seems to be the 57th Road subway station in Midtown about half-hour earlier than the capturing.
The suspect wears a particular grey backpack within the video, in addition to different footage from the capturing itself.
However sources mentioned different video footage exhibiting the suspect depart Central Park at West 77th Road with out the backpack — which prompted an enormous seek for the pack Wednesday that was unsuccessful.
Burner telephone, water bottle and fingerprints
Police continued to scour a so-called burner telephone — a pay as you go cellphone with out contracts, making it laborious to hint — that was present in an alleyway close to the capturing scene.
Fingerprints have been recovered as police processed each the telephone and a water bottle discovered close by, sources mentioned.
The suspect was seen making a name on a telephone as he made his solution to the Hilton Resort on Sixth Avenue about 10 minutes earlier than the homicide.
Officers consider the water bottle is considered one of two that he bought at a Starbucks on West 56th Road and Sixth Avenue, situated just some minutes’ stroll from the lodge.
— Further reporting by Ronny Reyes
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