Graham County Sheriff Frank Hughes was released from the care of the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, and he continues to recuperate from being shot with a .410-gauge shotgun.

Hughes was on patrol late Monday evening when he encountered a dark blue Nissan sedan with its trunk up, parked on the side of Safford/Bryce Road west of Reay Lane near Watson Wash. He told the Courier he thought the occupants, a Hispanic male and female possibly in their 20s, were in need of assistance. Undersheriff Dwayne Elders told the Courier that Hughes routinely performs patrol duty at times due to a shortage of available deputies.

Hughes allegedly asked if the couple needed help and was reaching into his patrol vehicle when he was confronted by the male, who pointed the shotgun at his face. The two men struggled, and Hughes was able to lower the barrel of the gun toward his chest as it went off at point-blank range.

Sheriff Frank Hughes

The pellets were absorbed by the sheriff’s body armor and did not penetrate him. Hughes was knocked back from the blow but was still able to return fire before striking his head and losing consciousness. Hughes’ return fire allegedly went into the ground.

“It all happened so fast,” Hughes said. “I went out to help them, and, bam, he was on me.”

A few minutes later, a passing motorist noticed Hughes lying near his patrol vehicle around 11:40 p.m. and used the sheriff’s radio to call for help. Hughes was then transported to the hospital.

He told the Courier he wanted to get up that night and go after the suspects, but the doctors and his wife wouldn’t let him. He said the blast knocked the wind out of him as it hit his rib cage. He showed a Courier reporter a nasty bruise he has as a remembrance.

This was not the first gunfight the sheriff has seen in his 30-plus years of law enforcement, but it is the first time he has been hit. He said it’s been a good, long career, but it is time to hang up his holster.

“It’s time to retire,” he said. “It’s P.J.’s turn now.”

Safford Detective P.J. Allred was recently elected sheriff and will begin in January. Hughes said he has known Allred for more than 20 years and is turning the office over to a worthy successor.

The shooting suspects remain at large, and anyone with information about them can call the Sheriff’s Office at 428-3141.