Given the struggle, the shotgun was most likely a semi-auto for three shots. I doubt the guy with the shotgun could have racked a pump while someone was trying to take it away.
Easy to actuate the pump- its a natural major muscle movement, the average pump action unlocks the bolt once fired, so minimal effort is needed to accomplish a reload, making the pump action almost as fast ( some say faster) than a semi-auto.
Why did the Agent testify that it was a pump action shotgun is my question. I understand I need to ask the agent. But from Barnhill’s “letter†the implication was and I assumed that it was a semi auto shotgun. Why the discrepancy? Was it ignorance or perjury? Since Law Enforcement Officers can be presumed to at least have a working knowledge of firearms, that seems to rule ignorance out. Or it could have been a pump action shotgun. If that is true, it is hard for me to visualize him working the action while struggling with the victim. Not saying it can’t be done but it is hard for me to visualize it, knowing the steps and effort required to do it.