17 year old boys in general do not commit mayhem just because they don’t like what someone is doing. If frightened they may run or hide possibly, but they do not ambush.
Martin got cornered when up to no good, and reacted in the manner he had been conditioned to by his peer group. That is the main tragedy here. Just like the old Elvis Presley song.
What Elvis Presley song? I don’t recall anything titled “Peer Group”! Was it “Change of Habit” referring to Mary Tyler Moore’s nunship?