MERIDIAN, OK — A Stephens County man has been arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter after a tragic Christmas Day shooting in which a woman was killed by a stray bullet while sitting on her porch.
According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 3:16 p.m. on December 25 to a residence on County Road 1800 in the Meridian area following reports of an individual with a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services and the Meridian Fire Department also responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, deputies determined that the victim, later identified as Sandra Phelps, had been shot while sitting outside her home holding a child. Witnesses said she commented on the sound of nearby gunfire, said “ouch,” and then collapsed. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators requested assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Duncan Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to aid with crime scene collection and area canvassing.
Later that evening, authorities received a tip that an individual in the area had received a new firearm for Christmas and had been target shooting in his backyard. Investigators made contact with Cody Wayne Adams, 33, who confirmed he had been shooting a recently purchased Glock .45-caliber handgun at a drink can in his backyard—approximately half a mile from the victim’s location.
According to an affidavit cited by BBC News, Adams told deputies he had received the gun as a gift and had no intention of harming anyone. When informed that his bullet may have struck and killed someone, he reportedly became visibly upset and began crying.
At approximately 7:25 p.m., Adams was arrested and later charged with first-degree manslaughter. Court records show he was booked into jail on December 26 and released on a $100,000 bond.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office thanked multiple agencies for their assistance in the investigation, including the OSBI, Survival Flight EMS, the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department, and the City of Duncan Police Department.
This tragic incident underscores the absolute necessity of adhering to the Four Rules of Firearm Safety, which are fundamental to responsible gun ownership:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Always point the muzzle in the direction of least consequence.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
It is the fourth rule that is especially relevant in this case. Every bullet fired has consequences. Handguns like a .45-caliber Glock are capable of sending a round hundreds of yards with lethal force. Shooting into a backyard in a semi-rural or residential area without a proper backstop and without knowing exactly what lies beyond the target is not just unsafe—it is dangerously irresponsible.
In some areas, it may be legal to shoot on private property, but legal does not mean safe. Responsible gun owners must go beyond what is merely allowed by law. If there is any chance that a bullet could leave your property and strike a neighboring home, road, or person, then shooting in that location is not responsible. No one should be sitting on their porch, as Sandra Phelps was, and lose their life because someone chose to “plink” at cans in a backyard with no proper range setup.
The safest place to practice is a dedicated shooting range, where environmental controls, backstops, and safety procedures are in place. If a person owns land with a proper berm and it’s legal in their jurisdiction to shoot, then with the right precautions, it can be done safely. But those precautions are not optional—they are a moral and legal obligation.
Firearm safety must never take a back seat to convenience or enthusiasm. This case was not about malice—it was about neglecting the core responsibilities that come with firearm ownership. Gun owners must be vigilant at all times, because a single mistake can lead to irreversible tragedy.
When a round leaves your barrel, you own it—legally, morally, and ethically. That is why we train, why we educate, and why we hold ourselves to the highest standards. The right to bear arms carries the duty to exercise that right with care, discipline, and unwavering respect for life.
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