My unfounded conspiracy theory is some questionable legal methods were used used to track him and the whole McDonalds snitch is a cover to make the search legal and arrest him. I can’t understand how someone who saw the photos released could have positively identified him.

It does seem odd that he was just chilling at McDonalds with the gun, the fake ID, and his manifesto ready to go.

You have absolutely no evidence except what the police, known liars, have told you.