I've heard and read a couple of interviews with this young man and he has his head on straight.
His father taught him well (and I'll bet his mom is no slouch, either).
He is very clear that gun laws and government are not the answer and has said that, among other places, on MSNBC.
Yes, he did very well, both during the incident and in the interviews afterward. Considering that this is the LA times, his ability to keep from being smeared and get his self-defense points on the record is remarkable.