NEW YORK — New York City Police Department divers have been seen looking the lake in Central Park on Saturday afternoon. Sources inform CBS News New York they have been searching for the weapon utilized in the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this week outdoors a Hilton resort in Midtown Manhattan.
The search got here in the future after police found a backpack in Central Park, which regulation enforcement officers say they consider belongs to the suspected gunman. Sources instructed CBS News New York that the backpack contained a jacket, however not the gun police consider was used within the crime. The backpack is now being analyzed at an NYPD forensic lab for doable hair and DNA samples, sources say.
Sources mentioned divers have been looking the lake round 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Citizen app video reveals police tape on the southern finish of the lake in Central Park, in the identical space the place the backpack was discovered. Park-goers mentioned they did not see officers depart with something after the dive.
“This nook, like not an enormous space, however this nook was blocked off with most likely 5 policemen, one van, after which we noticed scuba gear and a pair divers getting in, simply sort of splashing round, wanting solely on this space,” a witness named Charlotte D. mentioned.
Police closing in on individual of curiosity in UnitedHealthcare CEO taking pictures, mayor says
Mayor Eric Adams, who spoke to reporters at a Police Athletic League occasion in Harlem on Saturday, mentioned police are closing in on discovering the person of interest who had been staying at an Upper West Side hostel and was caught on digital camera with out his masks on.
Adams additionally mentioned police know the suspected gunman’s title, however are usually not sharing it publicly.
“We do not need to launch that now. If you do, you’re mainly giving a tip to the individual … we’re in search of, and we don’t need to give him an higher hand in any respect. Let him proceed to consider he can conceal behind the masks,” Adams mentioned.
According to police, the person of interest was seen on camera entering the Port Authority bus terminal in Washington Heights after the taking pictures Wednesday morning and has now probably left the town.
The investigation is ongoing.