UnitedHealthcare CEO’s latest photos: NYPD detectives follow leads to Atlanta

New York Police Department detectives arrived in Atlanta on Saturday after receiving multiple tips related to an as-yet-unidentified suspect wanted in Wednesday’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, sources told ABC News.

The Atlanta Police Department confirmed the arrival of the New York team but declined to provide further details.

The suspect allegedly arrived in New York on November 24 on a Greyhound bus leaving from Atlanta, although it is unclear exactly when he boarded the train. Sources tell ABC News he was spotted on board in Washington

On Sunday, for the second day in a row, New York Police Department divers entered a lake near the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park to search for evidence linked to a Midtown murder. It was unclear whether investigators recovered anything from the water.

Police have not yet found the distinctive weapon used in the shooting.

A masked gunman shot Thompson at close range at 6:44 a.m. on December 4 outside New York’s Hilton Midtown, where Thompson’s company was holding an investor conference. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as “brazen” and “targeted.”

Police learned that the suspect took a taxi to the Port Authority bus stop on 178th Street and boarded a bus out of New York after the shooting.

The NYPD believes it is making significant progress in identifying the shooter, but has not yet done so, sources tell ABC News. Late Saturday, New York police released new photos of the shooting suspect in what appeared to be the back of a taxi. No further context was provided.

According to police sources, the suspect boarded a bus leaving the city that stopped at six or seven stops. Sources say investigators have been following leads in multiple states.

According to law enforcement sources, the FBI is assisting in the nationwide manhunt.

Investigators continue to comb New York City – where the suspect spent 10 days before the shooting – for evidence.

On Friday evening, New York police found a backpack that allegedly belonged to the suspect. The bag contained only two items – a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money – sources with knowledge of the ongoing investigation told ABC News on Saturday.

Investigators believe they have recovered DNA samples from several pieces of evidence discovered at or near the crime scene, law enforcement sources tell ABC News.

DNA samples are currently in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York and are scheduled to be checked against databases for possible matches – a process that could take several days, sources said.

The police also managed to take fingerprints from a water bottle that the suspect bought at Starbucks. Sources say the print is blurry, so it’s unclear whether it will be helpful in the investigation.

The brazen shooting occurred around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Hotel, where Thompson was scheduled to attend his company’s shareholder conference. The gunman, whom police said was lying in wait, shot Thompson several times from behind as the general manager approached the hotel entrance, police said.

“The shooter then approaches the victim and continues shooting,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. “The gun appears to be malfunctioning as it clears the jam and starts firing again.”

According to police sources, the bullet casings had the words “deny,” “defend” and “testify” written on them.

The words on the bullet points resemble 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 whether anger at the insurance industry is a possible motive, sources said.

Centene, a major health insurer, said it would hold its planned investor day in New York next week, which it would personally attend, according to a Friday statement citing Thompson’s killing.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by the death of Brian Thompson and want to express our support to all those affected,” said Sarah M. London, CEO of Centene.

“He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and a clear passion for improving access to care,” London added. “Our hearts go out to his family and colleagues at this difficult time.”