A 74-year-old great-grandmother, who had survived cancer five times, was tragically killed on Christmas Day after being struck by a stray bullet fired by a neighbour during target practice, police have confirmed.
A Peaceful Holiday Shattered by Gunfire
Sandra Phelps, affectionately known as 'Nanny', was celebrating the holiday with her family at her home in Comanche, Oklahoma. The horror unfolded just before 3:15pm on 25 December as she sat on her covered porch, holding a child.
According to an affidavit, her family reported hearing five to seven gunshots for several minutes from the north of their property. Moments before she was hit, Phelps reportedly remarked that someone nearby must have received 'a new gun for Christmas'.
The fatal bullet entered her upper right arm and travelled into her chest cavity. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbour's Target Practice Turns Deadly
Law enforcement quickly identified the shooter as Cody Wayne Adams, 33. Adams admitted to firing approximately 20 rounds from a Glock .45-caliber handgun he had purchased for himself as a Christmas gift. He told deputies he had been aiming at a Red Bull can on the ground.
Investigators canvassing the area found that Adams' property lacked a suitable backstop to prevent bullets from travelling. They recovered spent shell casings and a broken ceramic tile near the target, which they believe may have deflected the bullet's path.
When informed that his shooting may have caused Phelps' death, Adams 'became visibly upset and began to cry' and told officers he was sorry, the affidavit states.
Legal Proceedings and a Family's Grief
Cody Wayne Adams was arrested later on Christmas Day and charged with first-degree manslaughter. He appeared in court on Friday and was released on a $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February, and he has been ordered not to contact the victim's family.
The charging document alleges Adams acted with 'conscious disregard for the safety of others', creating an unreasonable risk of death.
Phelps' youngest daughter, Sharon Marie Brooke, 50, paid tribute to her mother, telling the Daily Mail: 'She was the definition of beauty, grace and love... She gave life everything she had. Anyone who was lucky enough to meet her loved her.'
Phelps is survived by grandchildren aged 11 to 39 and great-grandchildren from seven months to 21 years old, all of whom knew her as their beloved 'Nanny'.
