Shooting victim ID'd

Gallup Police CSI Detective Emery Holly and Detective Andy Yearley search underneath a vehicle while placing evidence markers down at the scene of a shooting early Thursday. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Police released the name of a 20-year-old Breadsprings man, now known by its Navajo name of Bááh Háálí, who was shot and killed early Thursday morning at the Piñon Hills Apartments on Dairy Drive.

The man was identified as Kevin Begay, according to Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department. The case has been classified as a homicide.

Begay was fatally shot once in the head at about 12:45 a.m. while he was standing between two vehicles that were parked outside an apartment unit identified as "Building 8."

When medical personnel arrived at the scene, Begay had a "faint" pulse, but later died at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital from his wound.

Toadlena-Pablo said Begay's body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque to undergo an autopsy this morning at about 8. Medical officials specializing in forensic science will determine what type of bullet penetrated Begay's skull, she said.

Local investigators spent Thursday interviewing possible witnesses to the deadly attack and Begay's family members. Detectives also focused their efforts in speaking with residents of the Piñon Hills Apartments and the nearby Red Hills Trailer Park.

Toadlena-Pablo said most of the tenants did not know Begay and had never seen him in the area. Detectives are trying to determine what Begay was doing at the complex and if he was with any acquaintances in the hours leading up to the shooting. Several open beer cans were found at the crime scene. Police have yet to determine a possible motive for the crime.

"Right now, we're kind of at a stand still," Toadlena-Pablo said.

Investigators obtained a warrant to search Begay's vehicle, a Kia Sportage, and towed it to the police department to process any evidence.

A 14-year-old resident of the Piñon Hills Apartments was walking home from a friend's residence at the Red Hills Trailer Park when the shot killing Begay was heard.

The teenager said three young men were seen running from the scene. However, Police have yet to release how many suspects they believe were involved in the crime.

The Independent has withheld the name of the witness to protect them from retribution by the killer.

Anyone with information about the murder, is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (505) 722-6161. The organization is offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the case.