“Local chatter...”
That is anecdotal, you know, gossip. A necropsy would be official.
This is totally incidental, but forty years ago my windshield was shot out while driving in the Oregon countryside. It was an accident - thankfully no one was hurt except for a ‘dead’ windshield - but it was done by a couple practising target shooting. All it takes is a ricochet.
I know people that know the ranchers.
Sheriff Meeks is being cautious in making statements until the report is in.
But I am just injecting what I have been told by close sources.