Very possible for sure. Maybe he told his barber what was going on and barber offered the shotgun who knows really. Like you said it's better than a pistolDon't make no sense that an off duty LEO would be unarmed. Maybe he just felt he'd have better chances with a shotgun than a backup piece. As I told my daughter from a young age,when it comes to defense a pistol is useful to buy time for you to get to a shotgun or rifle.