A man in Pennsylvania is being held for questioning in connection with last week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEOBrian Thompson, sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News.
The man, who has not been identified, was found with a gun that is similar to the one used in the assassination-style killing that took place outside a New York City hotel on Wednesday, the sources said.
NYPD detectives are on their way to Altoona, Pennsylvania, to assist in the investigation.
The new information, which is being investigated as a new lead, comes as a private funeral is set to be held Monday for Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO who was gunned down as he arrived at the hotel for an investors’ conference.
Police have been searching for the gunman since the shooting and say at this point they believe he has left New York City.
The gunman arrived in Manhattan ahead of the shooting and wore a mask covering his face most of the time he was seen on security footage – though he lowered his mask while speaking with a hotel employee.
Police have circulated images of the shooter without his mask hoping that someone who may know him will come forward with information.
On the morning of the shooting, the gunman was hiding behind a car outside of the Hilton hotel waiting for Thompson to exit. He then approached Thompson from behind and shot him just before 7 a.m.
A massive manhunt was launched, but no arrests have been made.
On Friday, the NYPD found the shooter’s backpack.
Other than the backpack, law enforcement officials found bullet casings at the scene of the shooting with the words, “delay,” “deny” and “depose” on them. Some of those words are often used by critics of insurance companies to criticize them for delaying payments, denying claims and defending their actions.
