Orchestrating a scenario in which the only possible outcome is self-defense by deadly force sounds an awful lot like premeditated murder, to me. I think you should reevaluate what you consider pedantry.
It absolutely is considered goading. If lifting your shirt to reveal a gun holstered can be considered a threat (one that police can legally shoot you over) then carrying a rifle at a protest and starting shit with the protestors is also a threat.
He didn’t go there to make his voice heard — he went there to intimidate and kill.
then carrying a rifle at a protest and starting shit with the protestors is also a threat.
If a person threatens someone and gets attacked, he cannot claim self-defense. The jury decided he did not threaten them. It would have been murder otherwise and he would be in prison.