Categories: U.S.

NYPD divers seen searching Central Park lake as manhunt for CEO killer continues

close Video

NYPD SCUBA Team search the lake in Central Park

Investigators search for evidence, possibly related to the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, in New York City’s Central Park. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox New Digital)

Scuba divers with the New York Police Department were seen scouring a lake inside Central Park as the manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson continues.

Divers were searching for evidence inside the lake throughout Sunday morning. The lake is near where officials found a backpack linked to the suspect. Images and video show divers signaling to one another as the search continues.

Police had not announced the recovery of any evidence from the lake as of late Sunday morning.

Police say the suspect fled the scene of the shooting last week and biked to Central Park before taking a taxi to the Port Authority bus station. His arrival at the bus station has led police to conclude he is no longer in New York City.

SHOCKING VIDEO SHOWS UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON GUNNED DOWN ON NYC STREET

PHOTOS: See the search

  • Image 1 of 4 next

    A member of the NYPD SCUBA team signals from the lake in Central Park on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

  • Image 2 of 4 prev next

    Members of the NYPD SCUBA team prepare to enter the lake. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

  • Image 3 of 4 prev next

    Members of the NYPD SCUBA team unpack gear from the van. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

  • Image 4 of 4 prev

    Members of the NYPD SCUBA team gather in Central Park on Sunday, December 8, 2024. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

Police recovered a backpack linked to the suspect inside the park. It contained Monopoly money and a jacket.

Retired FBI agent Scott Duffey told Fox News Digital that the backpack will be taken to a lab in Queens for forensic testing, where it will undergo trace evidence processing.

“[It’s] a process for hair, fibers [and] DNA,” Duffey explained Saturday. “If he holds his hand against the strap and tightens the buckle like most of us do, that is where DNA most likely can be found. And zippers.”

Two members of the NYPD SCUBA team in the lake in Central Park. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

The NYPD first announced that $10,000 was being offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. The FBI said late Friday it was offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

FORMER NYPD INSPECTOR ‘SKEPTICAL’ UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO GUNMAN WAS PROFESSIONAL, ZEROES IN ON WEAPON OF CHOICE

The manhunt has now spread into multiple states and entered its fifth day on Sunday. The New York City bus station the suspect used serves routes that could have taken him to New Jersey, north toward Boston or south toward Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Members of the NYPD SCUBA team searching the lake in Central Park on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Former Washington, D.C., homicide detective Ted Williams said the Monopoly money in the backpack is the “killer playing games with the authorities. All part of a cat and mouse game.”

“This killer knew they would more likely than not find the backpack, and he is leaving breadcrumbs to let [the] authorities know that he is in control, not them,” he said.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

Share

Recent Posts

Illegals get more than they bargained for as FBI joins Trump DHS’ criminal alien crackdown: photos

close Video NYC official says 'party is over' for illegal immigrants New York City council…

2 hours ago

Where Trump’s Cabinet nominees stand in Senate confirmation process

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel testified before Senate committees on Capitol…

2 hours ago

Trump VA pick Doug Collins advances to full Senate vote

President Donald Trump's choice to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, passed a…

2 hours ago

Kash Patel vows to end Biden-era ‘targeting’ of Christians: ‘Sacred trust’

President Trump’s FBI director nominee Kash Patel pledged in his confirmation to end the "targeting"…

4 hours ago

Senate confirms Doug Burgum to lead the Department of Interior

The Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, former North…

4 hours ago

Top Republican on Senate health committee says he’s ‘struggling’ to confirm RFK Jr

The top Republican on the Senate's chief health committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., indicated Thursday…

4 hours ago