Police find backpack believed to belong to New York assassin days after fatal shooting of healthcare CEO

Police in New York have found a backpack believed to belong to the suspect in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Thompson was shot in New York in the early hours of Wednesday morning (4 December) as he was leaving his hotel.

The assassin then escaped on foot down an alleyway before getting onto an e-bike and riding it into Central Park, where CCTV footage lost track of them.

The shooter is still on the loose despite a state-wide manhunt.

Thompson was killed outside his hotel on Wednesday morning (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

According to sources, The New York Police Department have now found a grey backpack matching the description of one carried by the suspect.

According to CNN, it was found during a second sweep of Central Park and was located between boulders south of the park's carousel.

It is reported that the bag is now being forensically tested at a lab in Queens to determine whether it is linked to the assassination.

Other items, including a phone and water bottle, were also recovered from the scene of the shooting and are being investigated for DNA.

A photo of the suspected killer was released to the public (NYPD)

What we know so far

ABC 7 reports that the NYPD believes the suspect arrived into New York City on a bus from Atlanta in November, though at which point he boarded the bus is not clear.

He reportedly checked into the HI New York City Hostel on 30 November using an ID that wasn't his.

When the investigation looked into the name of the suspect, it did not match images taken by CCTV, ABC says police sources told them.

Their stay at the hostel did allow for the clearest picture of the suspect, as they pulled down a mask covering their face to speak with a receptionist while checking in.

Sharing an update, NYPD said in a statement: “UPDATE: Below are photos of a person of interest wanted for questioning regarding the Midtown Manhattan homicide on Dec. 4.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence; all indications are that it was a premeditated, targeted attack.

“The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public’s help—if you have any information about this case, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)."

The shooting was carried out on 4 December as Brian Thompson left his hotel (CNN)

Police believe the suspect could have now left New York, with authorities explaining they have footage of him entering a bus terminal.

“We have video of him entering," said Joseph Kenny, chief of NYPD detectives.

“We don’t have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus.”

On Friday evening, it was announced that the FBI would be offering a $50,000 (£39,000) reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Prior to the shooting, Thompson's wife Paulette said that he had received some threats, though their local police authority in Minnesota said that hadn't been reported to them.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the US and made $281 billion (£219 billion) in revenue last year.