Man Accused of Fatally Shooting Woman, Who Was Sitting on a Porch Blocks Away, During Backyard Target Practice

An Oklahoma man who was firing a handgun in his backyard on Christmas Day is accused of fatally shooting an elderly woman several blocks away.

Court records show 33-year-old Cody Wayne Adams has been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Sandra Phelps.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to a home in Comanche around 3:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 25, after receiving reports that someone had suffered a gunshot wound.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Phelps was seated on a covered front porch, holding a baby in her left arm and talking with family members, when she was struck by a bullet—first in the arm and then in the chest.

“The group heard someone shooting periodically 5-7 rounds over several minutes to the north of the residence,” the affidavit states. “Sandra commented that someone got a new gun for Christmas, and then shortly after, Sandra said ‘ouch’ and collapsed. There were no further gunshots after this.”

Investigators wrote that Phelps was likely hit in the upper right arm before the bullet entered “her chest cavity just below the armpit.” They noted the shot appeared to have been fired at an “extremely downward angle.” Phelps was pronounced dead at the scene.

As responders canvassed the area, they observed that many nearby properties had “suitable shooting backstops or firing locations”—but said one did not.

A local resident told investigators a neighbor, later identified as Adams, had received a new handgun for Christmas and had been heard firing “about 20 rounds” that afternoon.

Investigators then went to Adams’ address, where he reportedly told them he had been shooting a Glock 45—one he recently bought for himself for Christmas—at a Red Bull can in his backyard.

Officials said they found multiple spent casings on the ground where Adams had been shooting, and that flashing police lights from Phelps’ home were visible from that location.

In the affidavit, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Captain Timothy Vann wrote that he also found “[A] small piece of ceramic tile that appeared to have been hit and broken by one or more bullets,” adding that the broken tile and Adams’ shooting angle could explain the bullet’s high angle of entry into Phelps.

Vann also wrote that he told Adams there was nothing behind his property to stop bullets from traveling beyond his yard and potentially injuring someone.

The affidavit states investigators informed Adams that Phelps had been shot and that they believed he may have caused her death. He reportedly became visibly upset and began to cry.

Adams later allegedly told law enforcement during an interview that he had been shooting his Glock south from his residence. When Vann told him he believed Adams had caused Phelps’ death and asked if he had anything to say, Adams replied, “I’m sorry,” according to the affidavit.

Adams was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter. Court records show he appeared in court on Friday, Dec. 26, and his bond was set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26.