FARMINGTON – The Farmington Police Department awarded Shannon Begay the Outstanding Citizen Award to recognize her for her role in helping a man with a gunshot wound.

Begay heard gunshots outside her apartment shortly after 5:30 a.m. March 21 followed by a man calling for help, according to a statement released by the Farmington Police Department. When Begay ran outside, she found a man with a gunshot wound to his arm and immediately began applying pressure while calling 911. According to the release, Begay stayed with the man, tending to his wound until officers arrived.

The man, who was armed with a .22-caliber pistol, was shot in an attempt to stop the theft of his motorcycle, the release said.

“One of the subjects bear-hugged the man from behind, forcing the gun into his arm as the gun went off,” the release said.

The suspects fled the scene as soon as the gun went off. Once help arrived, the man was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center where he was treated. The case remains under investigation.

According to the release, Begay said she jumped into action after attending an active-shooting training with the Farmington Police Department District Coordinator Unit through her employer.

“She credits the training she received from Officer Michele DeLese for helping her ‘mind go there, so her body could follow,’” spokeswoman Nicole Brown wrote in the statement. “One of the officers who responded to the call had the opportunity to meet Begay later at a tabletop training and hear her story.”

Any business interested in active-shooter training can email Officer Robert Decker at rdecker@fmtn.org.

mmitchell@durangoherald.com