Suspect had Monopoly money in backpack: sources

Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation told ABC News on Saturday that a backpack found by the New York Police Department that allegedly belonged to a suspect wanted by UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson contained only two items: a A Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.

Sources told ABC News that the NYPD believed it was making good progress in identifying the suspect, but as of Saturday evening, no identification had yet been made.

For the fourth day in a row, investigators were scouring the city for evidence and clues in an attempt to apprehend the unidentified fugitive. These include the use of police divers.

Police searched a pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, not far from where the suspect’s backpack was found Friday night.

Police have not yet found the unique gun used in the shooting. It’s unclear if officials recovered any evidence from the water.

More: UnitedHealthcare executive’s actions in shooting suspect: Timeline before, during, after shooting

New York investigators and the FBI continued to track the shooter’s whereabouts after Wednesday morning’s incident and said he left the city that day.

Several New York investigators arrived in Atlanta on Saturday based on tips about the shooter, sources said. The Atlanta Police Department confirmed the New York team’s arrival but declined to provide further details.

The suspect allegedly traveled from Atlanta to New York on a Greyhound bus. Police learned the suspect took a taxi to the Port Authority Bus Facility on 178th Street after the shooting and boarded a bus to leave New York City, according to police.

The suspect is believed to have boarded a bus out of town and made six or seven stops, sources said, and investigators have been following leads in multiple states.

More: UnitedHealthcare CEO latest shooting: Police say suspect left New York City on bus

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that the killer entered New York City on a bus on November 24 when surveillance cameras at the Port Authority Bus Terminal captured his arrival at 9 p.m.

The inbound bus originated in Atlanta, but it’s unclear where the suspect boarded the bus. Sources told ABC News he was spotted on the boat in Washington, D.C.

The ten days he spent in New York City before the shooting are a focus of the investigation.

The FBI is assisting in a nationwide manhunt for the suspect, an unidentified man who remains at large following Wednesday’s attack, which police described as “brazen and targeted,” according to law enforcement sources. ” and “premeditated.”

Sources said police still don’t know the suspect’s name.

Meanwhile, major health insurance company Centene issued a statement on Friday saying it would move its in-person investor day event in New York City next week to a virtual format, citing Thompson’s recent killing.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Thompson and want to express our support for all those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the Centene team worked with Brian in their careers through contact,” said Centene CEO Sarah M. London. “He was a man of deep empathy with a clear passion for improving access to care. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues during this difficult time.”

More: Who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? What we know about the suspect at large

At 6:44 a.m. on Wednesday, a masked gunman shot and killed Thompson at point-blank range outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown New York City, where he was heading to the hotel for a company investor meeting.

More: ‘Denial,’ ‘Defense’ and ‘Deposed’: Sources say police investigating text found on bullet casings in execution shooting

“The gunman then walked toward the victim and continued shooting,” said NYPD Detective Joseph Kenney. “The gun appeared to malfunction when he cleared the blockage and began firing again.”

According to police sources, the shell casings had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “destroy” written on them.

The bulleted text echoes the title of the 2010 book “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” Police are aware of the similarities and are investigating whether anger against the insurance industry may be the motive, sources said.

MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s shooting death sets off alarm bells for national leaders: Experts

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that investigators believe they will be able to extract DNA samples from several pieces of evidence found at or near the crime scene. The samples are now at the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and will be run through databases for possible matches, a process that could take several days, sources said.

Police also took fingerprints from a water bottle the suspect purchased at Starbucks, but the fingerprints were smudged, so it’s unclear how helpful it was, sources said.

UnitedHealthcare CEO latest shooting: Suspect had Monopoly money in backpack: Source originally appeared on abcnews.go.com