911 Call: Peachtree City Police Chief Shot Wife In Bed

Chief McCollom told the 911 dispatcher his wife was shot in the back and the side while in bed. A portion of the call is transcribed below.

911 dispatcher:           “She was shot twice accidental? Who shot her?”

McCollom:                  “Yes.”

911 dispatcher:           “Who shot her?”

McCollom:                  “Me.”

911 dispatcher:           “How did you shoot her?”

McCollom:                  “Gun was in the bed, I went to move it, put it to the side and it went off.”

In a media briefing Thursday, Peachtree City Police Lt. Mark Brown said the chief’s gun is a standard issued Glock 17 9mm handgun. GBI spokeswoman Sherry Lang clarified that Margaret McCollom was shot only once.

When the dispatcher asked McCollom where the gun was located after the shooting, he replied, “Geez, I don’t know. I threw it to the side. It might be on the bed there. I don’t know.”

Moments later McCollom identified himself to the dispatcher as the Peachtree City police chief. The dispatcher also asked McCollom if he was asleep when the shooting occurred. The chief replied he was.

In the background, McCollom’s wife can be heard moaning and crying out, and McCollom asks her to stay alert.

GBI officials say they will not release any additional information about the shooting until the investigation is completed.

After being questioned by the GBI, the chief was allowed to visit his wife in the hospital.

Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard has stated during Thursday’s briefing that it was not clear, at that point, whether McCollom would face any charges. “Our role at this point is to wait and see,” said Ballard. “We’re cooperating in every way that we can with the GBI. As soon as all the facts are known, they’ll turn over a file to our office and we’ll review if in fact, there’s been any criminal activity.”

McCollom is on administrative leave. He joined the Peachtree City Police Department in 2012.