There's at least one video which proves that the vehicle in question had launched at least one individual up into the air, while it was moving forward, before stopping and going in reverse. It's as clear as day.
Now I don't know if there were any "bat" attacks that had occurred before that moment, but any assertion that the vehicle didn't hit people while it was moving forward is patently false.
It still might be a case of self-defense. The driver might have accelerated forward as a result of one of these "bat" attacks, or just out of fear or malice. That will be for a jury to decide. But I've seen some people subscribing to the notion that people were only hit when the car stopped and reversed. That is simply not true, and there is video that definitely proves it...
There is a moment in the video, before the car has hit anybody where the brake lights are on, then the left rear fender is struck with a bat and then he gives it the gas.