I don’t think the guy had any intention of shooting anyone. He was exercising his right to open carry. Common sense of a jelly bean for sure, but I’d be willing to bet he had no intent to kill.
He told his wife he was conducting a “social experiment”. His own wife spoke against him per the story above. He was gaslighting but like most such young and stupid males he never considered that he just might be taken seriously and come close to getting his own head blown off!