(CNN) -- A man suspected of fatally shooting an Iowa football coach Wednesday was released from a hospital the day before, without the knowledge of police, who had asked to be notified, authorities said. 

Ed Thomas had been with the school district for more than 30 years and was well-known in the region. 

Mark Becker, 24, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Ed Thomas, 58, a longtime football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. 

Investigators believe Becker walked into the school's weight room, where Thomas was overseeing athletes' weight lifting, about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday and shot him multiple times as about 20 horrified students looked on. Thomas was flown to a hospital, where he later died. 

"It's just too early to speculate" on a motive for the shooting, said Kevin Winker, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. 

Authorities said Becker was a former student at Aplington-Parkersburg, which is about 100 miles northeast of Des Moines, Iowa, and a former football player. 

The agency, however, noted that Becker had "recent contact" with police in Cedar Falls, Iowa, about 25 miles to the east of Parkersburg. On June 20, Becker led police on a high-speed chase after he allegedly broke into a man's house, according to a division statement. He was taken into custody, but early the next morning authorities determined he needed medical attention and he was taken to a hospital. Police asked to be notified when he was released, the statement said. 

But on Tuesday, Becker was released and spent the night at his parents' Parkersburg home before heading to the high school Wednesday morning, the division said. "Law enforcement was unaware that Becker had been released." 
Who shot Ed Thomas?
Were there any witnesses?
Who were they?
Where did this happen?
Which school?
At what time?
Where had Becker just been before he did this?
But just before that where was he?
What had the police asked of the hospital?
did the hospital do that?
Mark Becker
Mark Becker, 24, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Ed Thomas,
Yes
about 20 horrified students looked on.
students
about 20 horrified students
school's weight room
Investigators believe Becker walked into the school's weight room
Aplington-Parkersburg High School
a longtime football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. 
about 7:45 a.m.
about 7:45 a.m. 
his parents' Parkersburg home
his parents' Parkersburg home before heading to the high school Wednesday morning,
hospital
But on Tuesday, Becker was released
to be notified
Police asked to be notified when he was released
No
 "Law enforcement was unaware that Becker had been released."