via WHDH.com: "...[Savage]got into an altercation with a female petty officer and disarmed her, Navy officials said. Palomino said Mayo stepped over the disarmed officer and fired his weapon at the assailant. He was serving on watch for the installation that night and came to help once he saw the civilian board the ship."[SNIP]
On Wednesday, the Navy appointed Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley to lead an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Harley's role will be different from that of criminal investigators, and will include a review of base procedures, according to the Navy.
Apparently she was not only disarmed but on the ground when Mark Mayo 'stepped over her' & took the bullet to save her.
Do watch people in the USN have retention Holsters or do they wear the old flap ones?
My sources tell me that Mayo pushed her to the deck to protect her and to get at the assailaint, who then shot Mayo.
Mayo acted herocially here. He was not on duty on the ship, the USS Mahan, but saw what was occurring in his role with base security/watch, and came to the scene.
IMHO, the guy should ultimately have a vessel named after him. His is much more deserving than somone like Ceasar Chavez or John Murtha.