I don't know and neither did she. That's the point: she didn't know, and if he were to attack her she'd have had no time to respond with a gun. Knives and clubs are close quarters weapons, where guns won't help. If she brandished the gun before he pulled the knife or club and (which is the only way a gun in that situation would be useful), and the guy walked away and called the cops, she'd be in jail, and rightly so.

Some people think a gun is the answer to any safety fears. They're wrong.