The article is a wonderful example of Fake News.
While I think both parties were in the wrong, the WaPo article portrays the Millers as psychotic, murdering rednecks and Howard as a peaceful, poor family man victim. They have a Narrative about the evil of guns and rural whites to push, after all.
Then, one watches the actual video, where Howard is in an absolute rage, repeatedly yelling that he will kill both Millers, as they calmly respond and make no threats of their own. Howard is clearly the instigator and aggressor in this situation.
Now, the Millers likely should have backed off and called the cops, but regardless, this was the complete polar opposite of what the article presented.