Does it matter?

The point is, the NYPD was compiling evidence for the media to release. Part of that evidence nobody had included:

- the original surveillance video of the murder

- the video capture of him at the hostel (with his mask down)

- the video capture of him inside the cab after the murder with his mask

Without a decent photo, he probably would still be on the run. Had it not been for the NYPD releasing the images of him, the patron or employee would not have recognized him and called the cops.

The cops were closing in on him regardless. The photos being so widely circulated were a primary reason he got caught. He was probably forced to try and wear a mask to conceal his identity, but at the same time, doing so made me stick out enough that they called the cops.

You can use makeup to change your skin color (ashen, icteric, black). And fake facial hair covering bone features. And contact lenses.

Enough for a cab camera

That seems quite unfair. The NYPD was the one that located multiple pictures of the suspect, and I'm assuming did a good bit of detective work to ensure the pictures they released actually were of the suspect in question. Of course at some point after releasing photos of the suspect one would anticipate that someone who recognized them would turn them in.

So, eyes like every human being has?

Let me guess, you're the type of developer that says "Hah, it's crazy they have so many people, I could code up that project in a weekend!!"

Downvoted because you are flinging personal insults

Did you intentionally skip over this part of their comment?

> did a good bit of detective work to ensure the pictures they released actually were of the suspect in question

“Detective” work is carrying a lot here which is really just comparing clothing, pictures, following the journey etc. all made possible from the surveillance resources and not their work. And after all that they didn’t even have him as a suspect lol.

> “Detective” work is carrying a lot here which is really just comparing clothing, pictures, following the journey etc. all made possible from the surveillance resources and not their work

Do you remember the Boston Marathon bombings [1]?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Sunil_Tripathi

It was actually a patron at McDonalds.

That's gotta be the cover-up so they can quickly so, "oh! It was an anonymous tip. No one to blame or possibly endanger for you crazed vigilantes--sorry, thanks!"

I firmly believe it was an employee.

I feel like when you start conspiracy theorizing you're obligated to follow it to its logical conclusion. If I thought it were a cover-up to protect the store from crazed vigilantes, the last thing I'd do is try and put the store back in danger!

If the ice-cream machine was working properly, then they have one or more competent employees; which points to employee involvement.

If the ice-cream machine was broken, then the likelihood is less and the employees may not have been involved.

It's all very logical.

Those machines are broken by design. Another instance of corporate capture. https://www.wired.com/story/they-hacked-mcdonalds-ice-cream-...

Plot twist, he hates McDonald's.

He may have been there to kill that McDonald's manager

Based on your last sentence: Looks like my conspiracy theory holds some water then!

Giving the reward to a minimum wage worker seems like something he would do if he wanted to give himself up to the police, like why just go to the cops, the reward would be wasted. Although his politics seem incongruent so maybe not.

Even better

Basically the same thing that happened with the rapist in June who kidnapped and raped two random middle schoolers in broad daylight. Prints & and DNA were in the system, he was living in an apartment NYC was paying for and people called into the tip line with his name. It wasn't NYPD, it was a guy working at a bodega who apprehended him 5 days later.

If you're more conspiratorial, nobody called from McDonalds. That was just a cover for whatever creepy spy tech they used.