for his photography class the officers could enjoy jail. Rounds fired in the ground would have alerted/panicked those nearby, but also would have distracted the Secret Service sniper. They alerted the Secret Service, who was in charge, as they should have. And attempted to intervene, but lacking a target which could be indentified, firing "warning shots" would be irresponsible. It's possible the SS sniper could have fired on them.
...and the Secret Service should have immediately removed President Trump from the stage.
That did not happen—and that is where the center of the conspiracy lies.