Although I would like it to be true, I'm calling BS, mainly in reference to the gun as a "tool" for use. Only a big RKBA advocate uses this argument. The terms are off and too specific.
Also for a defensive gun her first purchase was a shotgun??? Given the circumstance it would have most likely been a handgun of some sort, and possibly reference to at least pepper spray at first. For a first timer I find it really hard to believe that a shotgun was the first purchase. My wife HATES my shotguns, they are too loud, kick too hard, and are big and heavy. She is still relatively "new" to shooting (4 years).
If only converts were that easy. The other thing is logically she most likely would not have put 2 and 2 together and thought the man with the gun was part of the gang and was going to shoot her, she had a kid with her as well, while as a robbery is a possibility, an abduction with a child is unlikely as for one, they are loud, 2 unless they are pedophiles (highly unlikely with 2) they wanted her, women with children tend to fight more.
An open McDonald's parking lot, although a possibility, would have much more likely occurred in a much less populated place. They also usually take place where surveillance cameras are not in use, McDonald's has them all over the building, including inside.
Another point is if this was "off the interstate" most likely they got there by some means other than walking, so where is the car? Far more likely they would do an abduction in their own vehicle, and as it seems planned a vehicle other than something that would make it difficult to sexually assault someone in a cramped car.
As stated before, while possible, highly unlikely.