Sandra Phelps was sitting with her family in her garden when a bullet tore through her arm and into her chest – fired by neighbour Cody Wayne Adams who was allegedly testing a new gun
A loving granny was fatally shot while cradling a child in her garden on Christmas Day.
Sandra Phelps, affectionately called Sandy by her family, was enjoying time with relatives when a bullet pierced her arm before entering her chest. The shot was fired by her neighbour, Cody Wayne Adams, who was allegedly testing a new firearm he had received as a Christmas present.
Paramedics raced to the scene but Sandra was declared dead approximately 20 minutes later. Adams, 33, was detained on Boxing Day and has subsequently been charged with first-degree manslaughter, reports the Express.
He resided roughly half a mile from Sandra’s residence in Comanche, Oklahoma.
The 33-year-old confessed to discharging his new Glock 45 calibre pistol at a Red Bull tin in his back garden.
Neighbours reported hearing between five and seven gunshots spanning several minutes. Police investigators retrieved numerous bullet casings from his property along with the Red Bull tin he had been targeting.
Authorities established that his shooting trajectory lined up precisely with the lights from emergency vehicles at Sandra’s residence. This verified the fatal shot and led to Adams’ arrest.
Nevertheless, when informed that his gunfire was suspected of causing the cherished grandmother’s death, he “became visibly upset and began to cry”.
Officers allege he was “shooting towards the ground in his backyard that there was nothing behind his property to stop any bullets from traveling beyond his property and hurting someone.”
Sandra’s granddaughter revealed to News 9: “This neighbourhood used to be filled with kids and every one of them called her ‘Nanny’.”
Another granddaughter, Amanda Winslett, expressed: “We just want her to be remembered for who she was. She was a wonderful, loving person and she will always be with us.”
Her grandchildren collectively reminisced: “Whatever we wanted to do, she would go with us and do it. Get a tattoo? Nanny would get one with you.”
The family finds solace in the belief that she is now reunited with her late husband of over 50 years. They affirmed: “Yes. We know 100 per cent she is with Papa.”
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