On Christmas Day, an Oklahoma man’s backyard target practice tragically resulted in the fatal shooting of a neighbor. Authorities in Stephens County report that the incident occurred when the man was using his new handgun.
Cody Wayne Adams, 33, now faces first-degree manslaughter charges. An arrest affidavit obtained by the Daily News reveals that a bullet from Adams’ gun allegedly struck Sandra Phelps, who was relaxing on a porch with family members, including a child in her arms. The distance between the two residences was calculated to be nearly 1,600 feet, or about three-tenths of a mile.
Phelps was seated with a child in her left arm and another child in a stroller nearby, accompanied by two adult relatives. According to the affidavit, family members heard intermittent shooting from the north, prompting Phelps to comment on the possibility of someone receiving a new gun as a Christmas gift.
“Shortly after, Sandra said, ‘Ouch,’ and collapsed,” the affidavit notes. “There were no further gunshots after this.”
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office reported that emergency services received a call about a gunshot wound at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. The affidavit states that a single bullet, fired from an “extremely downward angle,” penetrated Phelps’ right upper arm and chest. Despite attempts to revive her with CPR, she was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators, searching for the bullet’s origin, focused on Adams’ property after determining it was the only nearby location without appropriate firing areas or backstops. Neighbors mentioned hearing approximately 20 shots that day. Adams openly acknowledged he had been shooting at a Red Bull can on the ground with his new Christmas gift and was aware of the fatal incident.
Spent casings were scattered on the ground and the deck, and responders’ flashing red and blue lights at the shooting scene were “visibly in line with the shooting angle” Adams described, the affidavit said. Arresting officer Captain Timothy Vann also noted a small piece of broken ceramic tile just in front of the Red Bull can — and realized one of Adams’ bullets had ricocheted off it at an angle that explained its trajectory into Phelps’ arm, he stated in the affidavit.
“I then informed Adams what had occurred on Oliver Road and that I suspected that his shooting may have caused the death of Sandra,” Vann stated. “Adams became visibly upset and began to cry.”
Asked what he had to say, Adams responded, “ ‘I’m sorry.’ ”
Adams appeared in court on the manslaughter charge Friday and was released on $100,000 bond. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing Feb. 25, 2026, according to court records.
