According to a 911 recording, Peachtree City Police Chief William McCollom claimed he shot his wife while they were asleep in bed. This incident has shocked the upscale community of 35,000 residents located outside Atlanta.
CNN shared details of the call from McCollom to 911:
“Who shot her?” the 911 operator asked McCollom.
“Me,” he replied.
“How did you shoot her?” asked the 911 operator.
“The gun was in the bed, I went to move it, put it to the side, and it went off,” McCollom said.
“Is she awake?” the operator asked.
“No, everybody was sleeping,” McCollom said.
“No, is she awake now?”
“Yes,” he said.
Later in the call, the operator asked McCollom, “Were you asleep also when this happened?”
“Yes,” he said.
According to FOX News, McCollom’s wife, Margaret, 58, was listed in critical condition Friday at Atlanta Medical Center by hospital authorities.
While the Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigations the shooting incident, McCollom, 57, has been put on administrative leave but has yet to be charged with any crime.
CNN reported that when McCollom made the 911 call around 4 a.m. he didn’t mention he was police chief of Peachtree City. The 911 operator proceeded to ask where the gun was located. At first McCollom said he didn’t know, then said, “I’m the chief of police. The gun is on the dresser.”
“You’re the chief of police in Peachtree City?” the operator asked.
“Yeah, unfortunately, yes,” McCollom said.
At one point in the recording, the operator asked, “Is that her crying?” as she heard a woman’s moans in the background.
“Yes, she’s having trouble breathing,” McCollom said.
“Come on, guys, get here,” he said of the waiting on the arrival of the police and ambulance. “Oh my god, how did this happen?”
When law enforcement arrived, McCollom can be heard telling them the gun is on the dresser. At this point, the 911 operator ended the call.
In a statement released Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said, “Chief McCollom has been cooperating with GBI agents working the investigation. Ms. McCollom will be interviewed when her medical condition improves. When the GBI completes the investigation, it will be turned over to Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard.”
Authorities have not revealed very few details, but said in a Thursday press conference that McCollom shot his wife with his service Glock 9mm.
Peachtree City Mayor Vanessa Fleisch said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Maggie and the McCollom family right now, as we wait for the state investigation to proceed.”
