A retired FBI special agent explained why authorities have not yet released the name of the suspected killer who shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Wednesday.
“Prematurely releasing the suspect’s name could distract them and jeopardize the efforts of the NYPD and FBI during both the fugitive and criminal investigations,” Jason Pack told Fox News Digital.
“For example, if officers close in on the suspect, publicly revealing his name could prompt him to flee, potentially missing him at his current location.”
Pack told Fox News Digital Friday that within hours of a full photo of the suspects in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing being released, tips started pouring in to investigators.
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Jason Pack, a retired FBI special agent, told Fox News Digital that there are reasons why authorities are not releasing the name of the alleged suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Gideon Platt/Stage Star Deli)
“The suspect is unsure whether police have identified him, leaving him to play a guessing game as he calculates his next move,” Pack said. “Investigators must build their case methodically and ensure that every detail conforms to legal standards for probable cause.
“While the public may have an insatiable curiosity, withholding the name – if they have one – gives investigators the upper hand. In time, the full story will come to light.”
Pack is a retired special agent who addressed these issues as an FBI spokesperson on the ground and works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on several high-profile cases like this, including the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings, among others.
During an interview on “Fox News Live” Saturday, Fox News contributor and former D.C. homicide Det. Ted Williams echoed Pack and expressed optimism about the search for Thompson’s killer.
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Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. (Businesswire | NYPD Crime Stoppers)
“I can tell you behind the scenes that the walls are closing in on this wannabe professional hitman,” Williams told host Eric Shawn. “The FBI, as you said, has now joined this search. And I think it’s only a matter of time before they get him. The photo they have of him is now being posted all over the country.”
Williams emphasized that the FBI’s involvement in the search will end the investigation sooner.
“Facial recognition technology in New York is limited to New York. But now that the FBI is involved, they can now dive into a national database,” the former detective explained. ‘And that will be very meaningful and useful for this research.’
Thompson, who was shot outside a New York City hotel just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, died less than 30 minutes later. Detectives are investigating one number of clues the suspect left behind, including a backpack, a water bottle, a phone and shell casings.
Philip Holloway spoke to Fox News Digital about the search for CEO Brian Thompson’s killer. (Peter Gerber/NYPD)
Bloomberg reported that investigators found a jacket believed to be related to the murder, and no gun, in the backpack.
It has not been confirmed if the backpack was the same backpack the suspect was wearing during the killing, which was captured on a surveillance camera.
NBC News also reported Saturday that Monopoly money was found in the backpack.
“The killer is playing games with the authorities. It’s all part of a cat and mouse game. This killer knew they would probably find the backpack, and he’s leaving breadcrumbs to let the authorities know he’s in control , and not them.” Williams told Fox News Digital.
New York Mayor Eric Adams also confirmed that authorities are “getting closer” to the case suspect who killed Thompson as the manhunt reached its fourth day, the New York Post reported.
At a Police Athletic League holiday party in Harlem on Saturday, Adams told reporters that “the net is getting tighter and tighter.”
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The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on the murder suspect.
Officers believe that after the murder, the murder suspect immediately cycled into Central Park and threw away evidence. It is believed that he left New York City shortly after Thompson’s death.
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
