Woman shot on Christmas Eve speaks out

Suspect was not an intruder, claims he's her boyfriend

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Thursday, the woman shot by a man on Christmas Eve told her side of the story.

Ashley Faria, the woman who was shot says the suspect, 33-year-old Martin Ochoa wasn’t an intruder.

In fact, he’s her boyfriend.

On crutches, with the bullet still lodged in her right leg, Faria described the scenario as a stupid accident.

She says her boyfriend, Ochoa, and their family were all gathered together in the living room of their home near Kennedy Park for Christmas Eve.

Ochoa, who was illegally in possession of a handgun, removed the gun to use the restroom.

That’s when Faria claims the gun accidentally went off, firing a bullet through her upper left thigh.

The bullet made its way into her right thigh.

Now, she’s embarrassed by the backlash she has received from the public after News 11 released details on the suspect's arrest.

Faria claims her boyfriend is not a violent man.

Faria recalled, “One person [on facebook] was like hang him. People just talk because they have nothing better to do, but it was just an accident."

Faria also said her daughter called the paramedics as soon as she was shot.

However, the Yuma Police Department says Ochoa was not at the home when they arrived.

A brief standoff Wednesday led to his arrest.

Ochoa is being charged with misconduct with weapons and possession and is being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

Faria told News 11 the family can't afford to pay the money to get her boyfriend out of jail.