Oklahoma man accused of shooting woman during target practice

An Oklahoma man has been charged with first-degree manslaughter after authorities say a stray bullet fired from a gun he bought as a Christmas gift struck and killed a neighbor sitting on her porch a few blocks away.

According to a Stevens County Sheriff's affidavit, Sandra Phelps was sitting outside her home holding her baby on Christmas Day when she was fatally shot.

Witnesses told officers that Phelps commented on the sound of gunshots, said “oops” and then passed out.

Cody Wayne Adams, 33, was charged and jailed on Friday, December 26, but was later released on $100,000 (£74,000) bail, according to court records.

He told authorities he had recently purchased a .45-caliber Glock handgun and was shooting at a beverage can in his backyard, about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from where Phelps was sitting.

Deputies told Adams they suspected he had shot Phelps, and he “became visibly upset and began to cry,” Stevens County Sheriff's Capt. Timothy Vann wrote in the affidavit.

Phelps was shot in the upper right arm and the bullet entered her chest cavity. According to CBS News, the BBC's American partner, the child was held in his left arm.

She was pronounced dead about 20 minutes after officers received reports of the shooting.

Captain Vann claimed in an affidavit that Adams “shot into the ground in his backyard because there was nothing behind his property that could have prevented the bullets from traveling off his property and hurting someone.”

Under Oklahoma law, first-degree manslaughter is defined as murder committed without “intent to cause death” when a person commits a misdemeanor.

The offense in this case is discharging a firearm while demonstrating “willful disregard for the safety of others,” according to charging documents.

First-degree manslaughter is punishable by up to life in prison.

Adams is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 25 and was ordered to have no contact with the victim's family.