As authorities on opposite coasts work through two high-profile homicide investigations, retired FBI profiler James Fitzgerald says both cases underscore the painstaking, often frustrating realities of major criminal inquiries. Fitzgerald discussed the unfolding investigations into the Brown University mass shooting and the stabbing deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife during an interview with Dan Proft on Chicago’s Morning Answer.
In Los Angeles, police continue to investigate the stabbing deaths of Reiner and his wife amid widespread public confusion over the status of a family member reportedly linked to the case. Late-night statements from LAPD officials emphasized that no suspect had been formally identified and that no one had been detained, citing the need to obtain search warrants and follow strict procedural requirements. Fitzgerald noted that while the case is almost certainly being handled by LAPD’s elite robbery-homicide unit, federal authorities could become involved in a limited support role if an interstate element develops, such as a potential flight risk or the need to conduct interviews outside California.
Fitzgerald said such restraint, while unsettling to the public, is not unusual in high-profile cases where investigators must balance urgency with constitutional protections. He added that the absence of early arrests does not mean the case is stalled, only that police are building a legally sound case before taking action that could later be challenged in court.
On the East Coast, investigators are facing a different challenge following the mass shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and several others wounded. Police briefly detained and questioned a person of interest after a tip led authorities to a hotel out of state, but that individual was released when prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to hold him. Fitzgerald explained that detention short of arrest is permitted under the law for limited periods in serious cases, but if probable cause cannot be established, authorities have little choice but to let a person go while continuing the investigation.
He said it remains unclear whether the individual released is still considered a person of interest, noting that police may quietly maintain surveillance or revisit the individual if new evidence emerges. Fitzgerald also expressed surprise that a major Ivy League campus appeared to have limited surveillance coverage in critical areas, raising broader questions about campus security investments, staffing levels, and the long-term effects of post-2020 policing policies at universities.
From a behavioral analysis perspective, Fitzgerald said investigators will likely focus heavily on victimology, examining the backgrounds, associations, and recent histories of those killed and injured. While the public often assumes mass shootings are random, he cautioned that some attackers target a specific individual or group while harming others as a means of concealment or escape. Determining whether one or more victims were deliberately targeted is a key step in narrowing suspect pools.
Fitzgerald emphasized that motives in such cases can range widely, including personal grievances, ideological beliefs, retaliation, perceived injustices, or conflicts tied to academic or professional setbacks. He said investigators will also analyze the location of the attack, the building chosen, and any recent events connected to it, as well as comb through digital footprints for manifestos or warning signs.
In both cases, Fitzgerald said the public’s demand for immediate answers often collides with the slower pace required for careful police work. While the lack of arrests can fuel speculation and anxiety, he stressed that complex homicide investigations frequently unfold in stages, with critical breakthroughs coming only after exhaustive evidence review. Until then, he said, patience remains one of the hardest but most necessary elements of justice.