The now-dead suspect in the slaying of a Flower Mound 18-year-old drove from California to North Texas to carry out the shooting, police say.
The suspect has only been identified as 23-year-old man from Pleasanton, California in an updated press release regarding the Aug. 18 murder of 18-year-old Matthew Thane.
Capt. Shane Jennings with the Flower Mound Police Department said so far, all the evidence they have gathered has led them to believe the shooting was not a random act.
Police responded to the shooting at Thane's home just before 6 a.m. Tuesday.
"As they [investigators] looked into it, it was very odd. The time of the day, that he was the target, and the information we were given. There was a small fire that had been set, the rear of the residence that appeared to be some form of distraction to draw the occupants of the house outside," Capt. Jennings told NBC 5 on Friday. "There were a lot of questions, so the investigators dove into it and quickly started working."
Jennings went on to say, there was "great suspicion" that two knew each other through the online gaming community; however, he reiterated to NBC 5 on Friday, a motive has not been definitively named.
Using cell phone data, police say the shooter drove from Pleasanton, California to Flower Mound and then back within a 72-hour time frame.
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Pleasanton Police Department assisted with the investigation and detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspect's home. They attempted to serve the warrant on Wednesday night, police said.
Police said they believe that the suspect took his own life while police were attempting to get the suspect to leave the residence.
Isla Atlamirano of Dallas said she did not know Thane personally, but she did know him through the gaming community as well.
"A lot of people that did know him in the Call of Duty community knew of him, or know him. They were just shocked to see that happen in just like 12 hours. He was just streaming on Twitch the night before," Altamirano. "None of us really know the true motive, but it’s just sad to see."
As police continue to search for a motive, Capt. Jennings urged caution while online.
"I think it’s safe to say in the technology-driven world that we are in today and especially amongst COVID and how everybody is spending more time at home and on computers, that you really can’t use enough caution that you really know who you’re dealing with, who you’re speaking to," Jennings said. "Just to guard yourself, not to provide people too much information on who you are and who you’re communicating with at all times. That really goes for any of us."
The suspect's identity and official cause of death has not been released by the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau.
Police said the case is still under investigation.
