Some of those “weapons” were finger nail clippers. From the witnesses they can only give an account from their perspective and immediate area. I think after the first shots were fired everyone started looking for cover. All seem to agree that there was a lot of semi auto fire going on.
It should be noted that in the west it would be pretty hard to find an average blue collar guy that didn't carry a knife of some mention... I myself always have a pen knife in my pocket and a folding 5" Old Timer on me at all times, along with a multi-tool... All of which might be called a weapon (and admittedly can be), but most western men would consider them normal everyday tools.
To expand the point, my truck normally houses my 45/70 carbine and the 'possibles' belt I use when I go out to the woods... Among other things, that belt carries a tomahawk, a large hunting knife, and a .45 ACP... In addition to that belt, my go-bag also resides in my truck - Likewise, it is always on me when I am in the woods, which no doubt contains many things that could be considered weapons... And that doesn't include all the things (camp axe, tools, chains, straps, etc) that are in the sawbox in the back.
No doubt all of these things could be spun toward the idea that I am 'anticipating' battle, when in reality, they are just normal functional things that any woodsman would necessarily keep handy.
City folks might get the wrong idea.