It's a possibility. [ He won't rule it out. ] Ever since you told me to start taking the shovel with me, when we were locked in with Molly, Harrow, and Beau, I've had it. Everyone's seen me with it. It's a guaranteed weapon, whether for a murderer to use or for a victim to defend themselves with.

Finding himself in a large group, maybe he felt that it would be safety in numbers with a means of defense.

This doesn't explain my boots, but we'll get there. Theories won't hurt while we wait for evidence.