"The words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were discovered by detectives on the shell casings found at the scene where Thompson was killed, police sources told ABC News late Wednesday evening."

"...NYPD detectives said they were working to determine whether the words were meant as a message from the shooter and a hint at his motive."

Top people on the case.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-shot-chest-midtown-manhattan-masked-gunman-large/story?id=116446382