As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killer enters its sixth day, police are using cutting-edge technology to zero-in on his identity and whereabouts.
Artificial Intelligence, drones, and DNA analysis are all playing a critical role in the ongoing manhunt for the 'brazen' assassin who shot Thompson, 50, in broad daylight Wednesday.
"This man was wearing a mask, which could hinder facial recognition software because it recognizes points in the face and measures the distance between them," Herman Weisberg, retired NYPD detective and current managing director at private investigations agency Sage Intelligence, told the New York Post.
AI-powered facial recognition software is being used to analyze CCTV and other images of the killer from the days around the shooting and cross-reference them with NYPD databases of known individuals. This database includes 'lawfully possessed arrest photos' which the AI compares to photo and video evidence from the investigation.
The department also has use of more than 100 drones for surveilling the more than 450-square-mile city. And items collected from the crime scene are currently undergoing DNA analysis, as police believe they may have belonged to the gunman.
"The drones NYPD are using are highly sophisticated," Snider said.
These technologies are already piecing together events that took place before, during, and after Thompson's murder. Officials revealed Monday they are questioning a man about the slaying.
"We had to go through lots of video evidence to get that one money shot with the mask down," said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The NYPD is using AI-powered facial recognition software, drones, and DNA analysis to catch a person of interest as their investigation continues into its sixth day. Surveillance cameras recorded him lying in wait outside New York Hilton Midtown on West 54th Street around 6:45am on December 4 before approaching Thompson at roughly 7:00am. The CEO was declared dead at hospital shortly thereafter.
Challenges Faced by Investigators
- Cameras spotted him standing at Starbucks near crime scene just before attack but angle/hood may interfere with AI analysis according experts like Weisberg.
- 'It's painstaking tedious work not easy looks...NYPD good utilizing public videos magnitude,' says Weisberg regarding trailing suspects gray hoodies backpacks bikes voluminous cameras blocks canvassing there."
NYPD officers recovered suspect backpack Central Park while searching murder weapon pack only contained jacket.
- 'As far trailing someone gray hoodie backpack bike cameras so voluminous miss him block find next start canvassing there,' said Weisberg."
Technology Limitations
This technology limitations include:
- Masks hindering facial recognition due lack points measure distances faces;
- Drones unable reach surveillance blind spots within Central Park despite drone patrol program regularly surveils area launched recently;
NYPD still awaiting results water bottle wrapper coffee cup analyses crucial evidence bearing traces DNA believed purchased shooter similar forensic comparison suspect’s legally obtained samples provides highly effective strategy identifying assailants accuracy estimated over ninety-nine percent match rate confirmed suspicion otherwise stated explicitly confirmed whether these deployed search efforts remain ongoing...
Motive Behind Attack?
Objects recovered scene crime crucial evidence especially those bearing traces dna officers collected water bottle protein bar wrapper starbucks coffee cup finding dna all discarded items believed purchased shooter dna matching estimated ninety nine percent accurate latest timeline indicates suspect last known location near george washington bridge bus terminal offering commuter service new jersey greyhound routes philadelphia boston washington mayor adams hinted authorities closer publicly identifying suspect net tightening going bring justice don't want release now basically giving tip person seeking do not give upper hand let continue believe hide behind mask added fbi offered fifty thousand dollar reward information leading gunman's arrest conviction top ten thousand ny pd reward offered...