[TheSpecialist]

Depending on the choke used it is quite conceivable that the shot was at 30 yards. The folowing picture is a 12 Gauge Gun - 28 ga insert
30 yds - 3/4 oz. #9 Shot - LM Choke
1225 fps - 69% pellet count 30 in. circle
What that is essentially is a 12 gauge shotgun with barrels inserted to make it into a 28 gauge shotgun, using a Light Modified choke 69% of the pellets hit within the 30" circle at 30 yards at a muzzle velocity as high as or higher than most handgun rounds, including 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45. This is muzzle velocity, not energy, there is not enough information to get an accurate energy. I would say that the pellets were coming straight on , not arced in like you would usually see. Therefore they would have more energy.

All you armchair quaterbacks decide for yourself, but if unless you have never had an "Accident" with any thing, powertool, car, bike, kitchen knife etc. you probably should'nt judge. An accident is an accident no matter how you slice it.