could be a hoax? there should be evidence of bullets at the scene
One of the posters at the linked sources mentioned it might be a trial run to measure the response time of local authorities.
FWIW, the Sheriff’s Deputies are stretched very thinly. Something like 2 deputies to cover a 80mile x 50 mile area over about 10 townships.
Another poster had reported snipers in Joshua Tree Natl Park on the preceding night and morning tracking campers and families. That would be about 30-50 miles south of this incident off the same state highway.