A 33-year-old Oklahoma man is facing a first-degree manslaughter charge after authorities say a stray bullet from his Christmas Day target practice travelled half a mile and killed a neighbour who was sitting on her front porch.
Christmas Day Tragedy Unfolds
Stephens County deputies were called to a property north of Comanche on 25 December 2025 after reports that Sandra Phelps had been shot. According to a sheriff's affidavit, Phelps was holding a child on the porch when witnesses heard her say "ouch" before she collapsed.
Investigators confirmed she had suffered a gunshot wound. Tragically, she was pronounced dead roughly 20 minutes after the initial emergency call was received.
Target Practice Leads to Fatal Consequence
Authorities soon contacted Cody Wayne Adams, 33, who lived approximately 0.8 kilometres (half a mile) from the scene. Adams told deputies he had recently purchased a .45-calibre handgun as a Christmas gift for himself and had been shooting at a can in his yard.
When informed that investigators suspected his bullet had killed Phelps, Captain Timothy Vann of the Stephens County Sheriff's Office wrote that "Adams became visibly upset and began to cry."
Legal Ramifications and Court Proceedings
Adams was charged on Friday 27 December and booked into jail. He was later released after posting a $100,000 bond. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in court on 25 February 2026 and has been ordered to have no contact with the victim's family.
Under Oklahoma law, first-degree manslaughter is defined as a homicide committed without intent to kill while the perpetrator is engaged in a misdemeanor. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison.
Charging documents allege Adams engaged in conduct with a firearm that showed a "conscious disregard for the safety of others," which itself is a misdemeanor crime in the state. A telephone message left for Adams' attorney, Carl Buckholts, on Monday 29 December was not immediately returned.
