Yeah I don't think anyone buys that that is a more plausible outcome than some kids surrendering. Cops hold people at gun point all the time to the point it′s a well known trope; hands up, kneel on the ground, lay flat face down, arms and fingers spread out. If he had that dialogue on his recording and the teens made a jump for him and got shot, he'd have been able to much better claim self-defense and due diligence to avoid violence. Hell, if the teens were dead, there was no recording, and he didn't wait an entire day before calling the police, he'd have made a better case.

But he didn't because he setup to kill, hence the tarps he laid out beforehand. And now the remainder of his days are in a prison cell and two people are dead. Based on his trial and verdict reactions I don't think it was worth it for him.