STEPHENS COUNTY, OKLAHOMA — A Christmas Day tragedy has led to criminal charges in rural Oklahoma after a stray bullet from backyard target practice struck and killed a woman sitting on her front porch. Authorities say the shooter, a 33-year-old local resident, had no proper backstop to contain the gunfire.
Christmas Turns Deadly
The incident occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. on December 25, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to a home in the area after receiving reports that a woman had been shot while sitting on her porch.
The victim, identified as Sandra Phelps, was holding a child on her lap and speaking with family members when she suddenly exclaimed “ouch” and collapsed. She was struck in the upper right arm, and the bullet traveled into her chest, following a steep downward trajectory, the affidavit noted. Phelps was pronounced dead at the scene.
Moments before the fatal shot, Phelps had commented aloud that someone nearby must have received a new gun for Christmas.
Tracing the Bullet
Investigators canvassed the area and identified one nearby property lacking a proper backstop for target shooting. That residence belonged to Cody Wayne Adams, who reportedly admitted to deputies that he had been firing his new Glock .45-caliber pistol in his backyard that afternoon.
Adams told police he had bought the handgun for himself as a Christmas gift and was shooting at a Red Bull can placed on the ground, according to the affidavit. He showed deputies the exact location where the shooting occurred.
Officers recovered spent shell casings and a broken piece of ceramic tile near the target. Investigators believe the tile may have caused the bullet to deflect upward and travel beyond Adams' property, ultimately striking Phelps more than 400 feet away.
The affidavit states clearly:
“There was nothing behind his property to stop any bullets from traveling beyond his property and hurting someone.”
Arrest and Charges
Adams was visibly shaken when informed that his stray round likely caused Phelps’ death. He told deputies he was “sorry” and “became visibly upset,” the report states.
He was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter, which under Oklahoma law can be filed in cases of negligent homicide resulting from reckless conduct. Adams appeared in court on Friday, December 27, and was later released on $100,000 bond, according to court records.
A Preventable Tragedy
No further details have been released regarding the child Phelps was holding at the time of the shooting. Authorities have not announced whether additional charges will be considered.
The case has raised renewed concerns about unregulated backyard gun use and the importance of safety protocols, even in rural areas where informal target practice is common. The investigation remains ongoing.
For more cases involving negligent gun use, check out our video here:
