[boondockst]

based on how the table had been playing, it seemed obvious that the shortstack had KJ and I thought that just calling the raise would look more like "I want to get to a showdown" more than anything

There's been many times a shortstack go all in for ~$3 at the table preflop and sometimes 4 people coldcall it whereas if it's a larger stack raising to $3, the same people would not call. The oringal bettor did indeed have AQ and I still feel that given how timid he played the hand (checked flop, underbet turn/river) an all-in raise and all-in reraise would probably have pushed him off the hand.