Following the law is not just “a better answer.”
Without any threat to his own safety, he shot blindly into the dark.
That is criminal. He could have killed a small child who had gotten lost amd wandered in.
Who are you to perform his threat assessment? And I might point out that most dangerous things like lurking in darkness.
Is it wise? No. Do I blame him for going off? no.
That is criminal.
No, it's not.
He could have killed a small child
Which would be tragic, but not criminal.