In all probability, they were after someone else and he got involved. Being a mountain boy, he can be excused for “not knowing”. I live in the hills but I was raised in the city. I know when the schick goes down, you make yourself scarce. When they get in that state, they ain’t particular about who they attack.
I’d say “possibility” rather than “probability”....mountain man or not, when a sufficient number of anyone decides to get physical against you, you have no real option other than to shut them down in a way they i=understand - looks like the rest “understood” when he went on defense. W/o video of the minute before what we have available, we may never know the truth.