An Oklahoma man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a woman not far from her home while he fired at a target in his backyard.
According to an affidavit, the woman, Sandra Phelps, was sitting under a covered porch with family on Christmas Day and holding a baby in her arms when the group heard gunshots north of the residence.
“Sandra commented that someone got a new gun for Christmas and immediately thereafter Sandra said ‘ouch’ and fell down,” the affidavit says, adding that no other shots were fired after that.
At approximately 3:15 a.m. Thursday, officers received a report of a man suffering from a gunshot wound the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a statement. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, where Phelps was pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that a bullet appeared to have passed through Phelps’ upper right arm and entered his chest, the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, officers canvassed the surrounding area and discovered that a home less than a mile away lacked a suitable shooting backstop.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office received information that Cody Wayne Adams, a resident of the home who had recently purchased a Glock 45 for Christmas, was heard by his neighbors firing shots that afternoon, the affidavit states.
According to the affidavit, deputies responded to the residence and made contact with Adams, 33, who said he was firing a handgun in his backyard.
Adams showed the deputy the Red Bull can he was shooting at in his backyard. According to the affidavit, officers concluded that the vantage point from which Adams was firing was consistent with the angle of the bullet that killed Phelps. Upon learning someone was injured, Adams became visibly upset and began crying, the affidavit said.
Adams was arrested Thursday and released Friday on $100,000 bond, records show. It was not immediately clear whether Adams had legal representation.
