There was Monopoly money in the suspect’s backpack: sources

There was Monopoly money in the suspect’s backpack: sources

The backpack recovered by the NYPD that allegedly belonged to the suspect wanted in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson contained only two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money, sources with knowledge of the ongoing investigation said on Saturday with ABC News.

The NYPD believes it is making good progress in identifying the suspect, but no identification has been made as of Saturday evening, sources told ABC News.

Investigators continued to comb the city for a fourth day looking for evidence and clues to help catch the unknown fugitive. This also included the use of police divers.

PHOTO: NYPD members search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for possible evidence related to the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 7, 2024. (Bill Hutchinson/ABC News)

PHOTO: NYPD members search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for possible evidence related to the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 7, 2024. (Bill Hutchinson/ABC News)

Officers searched a pond near the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park on Friday evening, not far from where the suspect’s backpack was found.

Late Saturday evening, the NYPD released a new image of the suspected shooter in the back of a taxi, without providing any further context.

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying this individual wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of a CEO in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (NYPD)

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying this individual wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of a CEO in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (NYPD)

Police have not yet recovered the signature weapon used in the shooting. It is unclear whether officers recovered evidence from the water.

MORE: Moves of UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect: A timeline before, during and after the shooting

PHOTO: NYPD members search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for possible evidence related to the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 7, 2024. (Bill Hutchinson/ABC News)

PHOTO: NYPD members search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for possible evidence related to the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 7, 2024. (Bill Hutchinson/ABC News)

New York investigators and the FBI continue to track the gunman’s movements after the incident Wednesday morning and said he left the city that day.

Sources said some New York investigators arrived in Atlanta on Saturday after receiving tips about the shooter. Atlanta police confirmed the New York team’s arrival but declined to provide further details.

The suspect allegedly arrived in New York on a Greyhound bus that departed from Atlanta. Police have learned that after the shooting, the suspect took a taxi to the Port Authority bus facility on 178th Street and boarded a bus from New York City after the shooting.

The bus the suspect took out of town is believed to have made six or seven stops, and investigators were following leads in several states, the sources said.

MORE: Latest UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting: Suspect left New York City by bus, police say

The killer was traveling by bus to New York City on November 24 when a surveillance camera at the Port Authority Bus Terminal recorded his arrival at 9 p.m., law enforcement sources told ABC News.

The arriving bus was from Atlanta, but it was not immediately clear where the suspect boarded. Sources told ABC News that he was seen on board in Washington, DC

The 10-day period he was in New York City before the shooting is the focus of investigative efforts.

PHOTO: Thompson, the CEO of major insurance company UnitedHealthcare, was shot at close range in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (ABC News)

PHOTO: Thompson, the CEO of major insurance company UnitedHealthcare, was shot at close range in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (ABC News)

According to law enforcement, the FBI is currently supporting a nationwide manhunt for the suspect and the unidentified man remains at large following Wednesday’s attack, which police described as “brazen, targeted” and “premeditated.”

According to the sources, the police still do not have the name of the suspect.

Meanwhile, Centene, a major health insurer, said it would move its planned in-person investor day in New York City next week to virtual, citing the recent killing of Thompson, the company said in a statement Friday.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and would like to express our support to everyone affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; “Many CenTeam members have met Brian throughout their careers,” said Sarah M. London, Chief Executive Officer of Centene. “He was a person with deep compassion and a clear passion for improving access to health care. Our hearts go out to his family and colleagues during this difficult time.”

MORE: Who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? What we know about the suspect on the run

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying this individual wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of a CEO in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (NYPD)

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying this individual wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of a CEO in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. (NYPD)

The masked gunman shot Thompson at close range at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday outside New York’s Hilton Midtown, where Thompson was heading to his company’s investor conference.

MORE: ‘Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Sources say police are investigating words found on bullet casings in CEO shootings

PHOTO: A backpack recovered by police in Central Park during the investigation into the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 6, 2024. (Received from ABC News)

PHOTO: A backpack recovered by police in Central Park during the investigation into the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 6, 2024. (Received from ABC News)

“The shooter then walks toward the victim and continues shooting,” said New York Police Chief Joseph Kenny. “It appears the gun is malfunctioning as he clears the jam and begins firing again.”

According to police, the words “deny,” “defend,” and “deposit” were written on the bullet casings.

The words on the bullets are reminiscent of the title of the 2010 book “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” Police are aware of the similarity and are investigating Anger at the insurance industry is a possible motive, it was said.

MORE: Fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson sparks wake-up call for country’s leaders: experts

PHOTO: NYPD officers search Central Park for evidence of the CEO shooting on December 6, 2024 in New York. (WABC)

PHOTO: NYPD officers search Central Park for evidence of the CEO shooting on December 6, 2024 in New York. (WABC)

Investigators believe they were able to obtain DNA samples from several pieces of evidence discovered at or near the crime scene, law enforcement sources told ABC News. The samples are currently in the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to check databases for a possible match – a process that could take several days, the sources said.

PHOTO: UnitedHealthcare CEO killed (Richard Drew/AP)

PHOTO: UnitedHealthcare CEO killed (Richard Drew/AP)

Police also managed to take a fingerprint from a water bottle the suspect bought at Starbucks. However, the print is blurred, so it is not clear how helpful it will be, sources said.

UnitedHealthcare CEO’s latest shooting: There was Monopoly money in suspect’s backpack: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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