A former senior police official said the various law enforcement agencies pursuing the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson were unable to make the final decision, given the large number of personnel involved in the investigation and effective coordination between the agencies. He said he was confident they would be able to find him.
John Ryan, former chief of the New York Port Authority and New Jersey Police Department, told FOX News Digital that New York's FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is leading the investigation along with the New York City Police Department and they are working together. Ta. Ryan said police are on the scene in Georgia, where the killer may now be, as well as the FBI field office in Atlanta.
“There is no better group of law enforcement experts than the New York FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is made up of 52 FBI-led agencies, so having them weigh in on this matter is a huge asset. ” says Ryan.
UnitedHealthcare CEO calls suspect just before shooting Who shot suspect?
A screenshot of surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows a person wanted in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. is reflected. (NYPD Crime Stoppers)
He said the two agencies are also working with the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, which has a long history of providing support and expertise to other law enforcement agencies to assist in fugitive investigations. He said there was.
“The U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force is very good at tracking people, and I'm confident they'll be able to find him and take him into custody,” Ryan told FOX News Digital. “And they do it every day. There's no one better at it than them.”
Ryan, a 45-year veteran who previously served as deputy task force commander for New York's JTTF, said the NYPD, Port Authority Police Department and other local agencies provide personnel to the sheriff's service for these types of incidents. He says he is doing it.
“So they're bringing in all their assets, knowledge and capabilities to track this person's movements,” Ryan said. “And they're very good at what they do. They do it every day, and their ability to do it is one of the best.”
He said investigators have already made impressive progress in accumulating evidence and will continue to close in on the cold-blooded killer.
A Peak Design backpack 4 was last seen by the NYPD on Friday, December 6, 2020, in a pile of leaves in Central Park. The bag appears to match the one worn by the gunman who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday morning. (Obtained by New York Post)
For example, NYPD investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the suspect in Central Park West on Friday, a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital. It will be taken to a laboratory in Queens for forensic testing.
Investigators are also currently testing DNA on a water bottle that the assassin may have dropped after ambushing Thompson outside the Hilton Midtown at 57th Street and Sixth Avenue and taking off into an alley.
UnitedHealth CEO assassin left message to 'make a statement' or 'get rid of the police': Detective
A mobile phone believed to belong to the attacker was also found in the alley he had used during his escape, and the assassin also left behind three shell casings with the words “denied,” “expulsion” and “delayed” engraved on them. This word is similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” that is commonly used in the medical industry.
“The fact that we were able to find all of these items should give people some peace of mind knowing how thoroughly the NYPD investigates these and other crimes.” Ryan says.
NYPD officers were seen searching for clues in Central Park on Saturday, marking the fourth day of the manhunt.
Police said Friday that the suspect likely arrived in New York from Atlanta and left New York for Atlanta, Georgia, before the attack.
Ryan said investigators will also review surveillance footage from the bus.
A map showing where the backpack was found in Central Park. The backpack is believed to belong to the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. (Fox News Digital)
“The big question is, what was this person's motive for targeting United Healthcare executives, so they're going to look into that,” Ryan said.
“Then the big question is: were there other potential targets that needed to be protected? And the other question is: were there other weapons that this person might have had access to? That's what it means.
“And we also need to establish who he is and build a profile as to whether he has any known weapons. Other family members who would have provided him with access to firearms. members of
Ryan said the fact that writing was left on the shell case showed the killer was motivated by personal reasons, rather than a third-party hitman.
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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday morning in midtown Manhattan. (Businesswire | NYPD Crimestoppers)
“It was the result of a frustration he had, so he was basically stressing the reason why he did what he did and left the cartridge there to be discovered,” Ryan says. “So that was his way of communicating why he did what he did.”
He said the assassination has other companies on alert for potential threats against their executives.
“Given the fact that it occurred in broad daylight in midtown Manhattan, the ramifications of this incident will reach the executive branch of every company. It will undoubtedly affect everyone who works or lives in the city. will give you.”
FOX News' Christina Coulter contributed to this report.
