FBI joins hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer, offering 50K reward

The FBI is joining the New York Police Department (NYPD) the search for the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as the manhunt enters its fourth day.

The agency is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the gunman's arrest and conviction, according to the FBI's field office in New York City.

Thompson, who was set to address a meeting of investors, was killed early Wednesday morning in Manhattan outside of a hotel after being shot in the back and right calf. He was declared dead just 30 minutes after impact, officials said.

Authorities have released the photos of the gunman, which the FBI also shared in their Friday night award announcement. Authorities have collected and tested DNA evidence — namely a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper discovered near the scene. The police have also discovered a cellphone and a fake ID, which they believe belong to the suspect. 

Law enforcement officials said the killer has likely departed New York City via bus. 

“We have video of him entering the Port Authority bus terminal. We don’t have any video of him exiting, so we believe he may have gotten on a bus,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. 

Law enforcement also noted that he likely traveled into the city on a Greyhound Bus. They are currently analyzing his path to the Hilton Hotel Midtown, where Thompson was shot.

“Eventually we have him on 86th Street and Columbus Avenue walking. He loses the bike and then from there, we have him in a taxi cab and a taxi cab takes him up to 178th Street and Broadway, which, as we know, is a Port Authority bus center,” Kenny said. “Those buses are interstate buses.”

NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch called the shooting a "brazen, targeted attack."

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Tisch said during a briefing. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.” 

It was also later discovered that the bullet shells had written messages on them, including the words "deny," "defend" and "depose." ABC News first reported on the words.

Anxiety around the perceived assassination of the insurance CEO has led other major health companies to remove photos of their top executives, close down buildings and even switch to virtual investor meetings.