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A man suspected of killing a UnitedHealth executive in midtown Manhattan earlier this week is believed to have left the city as investigators’ search continues into its third day.

The manhunt comes after Brian Thompson, who headed UnitedHealth’s large insurance division, was fatally shot outside a hotel in one of Manhattan’s busiest boroughs by a masked gunman who fled on an e-bike.

The executive’s predawn killing on the way to an investor event has sparked a nationwide investigation and prompted companies to step up security measures for senior executives.

Investigators believe the suspect, whose name has not yet been released, left New York, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN.

Joseph Kenny, the chief of criminal investigations, also told CNN that the suspect was last seen at an interstate bus station in downtown Manhattan and may have boarded a bus to leave the city.

Meanwhile, UnitedHealth has told employees it is working with local law enforcement to improve security at its corporate headquarters in Minnesota and other locations. Other companies on both sides of the Atlantic have also increased their security measures in recent days.

UnitedHealth, along with other major health care companies Humana and CVS Health, have removed photos of their management and board members from their websites.

NYPD investigators had recovered DNA from a water bottle left at the crime scene, which occurred in a part of Manhattan frequented by businesspeople and tourists, according to a person with direct knowledge of the investigation.

The suspect is believed to have traveled by Greyhound bus from Atlanta to New York on November 24 before checking into a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where officers were present on Thursday.

The Atlanta Police Department said Friday that it had been contacted by the NYPD and “will now provide assistance as needed.” The NYPD remains the lead agency in the investigation, the APD added.

Thompson, who served as general manager of UnitedHealth’s insurance division since 2021 and has been with the company for two decades, was shot three times in the back around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday. On Thursday it emerged that investigators had found labels on the bullet casings that read “deny”, “defend” and “depose” – a possible reference to a 2010 book about insurers denying claims.

UnitedHealth is America’s fourth-largest U.S. company by revenue, and its health and insurance divisions serve tens of millions of Americans.

UnitedHealth said in a statement late Thursday: “Our priorities are first and foremost supporting Brian’s family; Ensuring the safety of our employees; and work with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice.”