Well, if what you say here is true, that would mean that both the police department and the Register Guard were inaccurate in their reports.   For such guns shoot pellets, not BB's.   You thus seem to be engaging in pure speculation here, 

These nuisances are totally irrelevant, though.   For even the most basic BB gun can maim and kill a small animal like a squirrel.   So either way, the man is still a savage pervert to inflict such gratuitous pain and suffering on defenseless little animals like this.