They probably figured the kid was scared and yelling at him to get into the closet and stay there was the end of that conversation. They had no idea this kid was one to fight back.

The overwhelming majority of criminals really aren't that bright and don't think things through. So don't be shocked when they make what looks like a simple mistake during a job if they get confronted with an unexpected complication (like the 11 yo taking the initiative and a machete).

Dude almost certainly felt it when he got hit by the machete, but may have felt like a hit with a blunt object at the time, esp. if the machete wasn't very sharp. I've bumped into things many times over the years and found out later I was bleeding from it.

As for 3 vs 1 and gun vs. machete, I refer back to point #2. Criminals aren't that bright and don't know what to do when they encounter resistance. So they panic. When panicked, they could do almost anything, and it probably will make no sense in retrospect. When confronted with an 11 yo wielding a machete, some might drop the gun and run. Some might start shooting anyone and everyone, including their friends and maybe even themselves. But almost no one will come up with a logical and practical response.
[Post edited by Tafkam Hokie at 06/17/2019 10:27AM]