People hear what they want to hear.
If they know nothing about guns, hear "Bushmaster" rifle, and see a shotgun coming out of the trunk.... They put it all together and come up with:
"Bushmaster assault rifle found in trunk of shooter's car."
It's just like the Piers Morgan interview we have all seen, now.
During one of his rants he blurts out that Lanza had FOUR "assault rifles". ...because, to Piers,
any rifle is an 'assault rifle' - even a Henry lever action .22.