(NewsNation) — Exclusive never-before-seen footage obtained by NewsNation shows the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s death entering Central Park from the bike lane on 6th Avenue, just minutes after the fatal shooting.
Thompson, 50, was shot just before 7 a.m. Wednesday near a hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, sources told NewsNation.
The suspect, described by police as a “light-skinned male” wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket and a distinctive gray backpack, fled the scene on foot before hopping on a Citibike.
The exclusive video shows new angles of his escape path, including the suspect riding up 6th Avenue, past 58th Street, before darting across the street and riding right into the darkness of Central Park.
Just 15 minutes later, he’s spotted again leaving Central Park from the west side at 77th Street, without his distinctive backpack. Police say he then turned up on 86th Street, minus his bike, and headed north to the Port Authority Bus Station via taxi.
Authorities say there’s no video of him leaving, so they assume he boarded a bus, including a possibly interstate route.
On Friday, police told NewsNation they found the gray backpack the gunman was shown wearing in surveillance video in Central Park.
The bag is currently being processed for evidence, and authorities have not released any information about what was inside or where it was found within the park.
Just moments before the backpack was found, a “Banfield” producer was in the park retracing the gunman’s path.
She saw investigators searching the area, capturing an exclusive video of authorities looking for the suspect’s bag.
NewsNation also obtained the exclusive never-before-seen video of the gunman riding his bike into Central Park — just moments before he dumped the bag.
UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting time discrepancy
The exclusive video is time-stamped at 6:45 a.m.
Police say Thompson was gunned down at 6:44 or 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, which means the shooting may have happened a few minutes earlier than reported.
NYPD: ‘Reason to believe’ suspect left NYC
In New York, authorities have deployed police drones, helicopters and dogs in their comprehensive search for the shooter and have a “massive presence” in Manhattan, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.
“We have the drones up. We have aviation out. We have K-9 out,” he said. “An incident like this happens — we don’t spare any expense.”
As of Friday evening, NYPD has reason to believe the suspect has left the city, police sources confirmed to NewsNation’s Rich McHugh.
The NYPD is offering up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
NYC mayor won’t release suspect’s name
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to catch the gunman.
“This was not what appears to be a just random act of violence. It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual, and we will apprehend that individual,” he said.
Adams on Saturday told press that the city will not release the name of the suspect, when identified. It was not made immediately clear if officials have a name.
“We don’t want to release that now … We do not want to give him an upper hand at all. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask,” Adams explained.
As the search expands beyond New York, Adams said the “net is tightening” on the unnamed gunman. Saturday marks day four of the massive manhunt.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali contributed to this report.
