An incident report has been released by the Peachtree City Police Department connected to the shooting of Margaret McCollom by Police Chief William McCollom at their home on Jan. 1. The report from officers at the scene noted that Margaret McCollom was experiencing serious bleeding and was completely alert and responding appropriately. Still at Atlanta Medical Center (AMC), Maggie McCollom is now listed in “good” condition. While the incident report lists very little detail over the small amount of information revealed thus far by the Ga. Bureau of Investigation (GBI), it does note several aspects of the scene as found by officers when they arrived at the home in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.
The incident report noted that Maggie McCollom was completely alert and responding appropriately, had “serious” bleeding and had suffered multiple wounds, aspects of the incident that had not been previously disclosed or elaborated on.
Other items listed in the report based on the previously-released 911 call, such as the wounds to the back and side, resulted after Maggie McCollom was accidentally shot by Chief McCollom, as reported by the chief. Maggie McCollom, 58, told the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Jan. 5 that she was asleep in her bed when she was struck by a single bullet to her back but believed her shooting was an accident.
Also on Jan. 5, a GBI news release said, “GBI agents interviewed Margaret McCollom [Monday] afternoon in her hospital room at the Atlanta Medical Center. Ms. McCollom was shot by Peachtree City Police Chief William McCollom in their home at 103 Autumn Leaf in Peachtree City [Jan. 1].
During the interview, Ms. McCollom stated she was asleep when the shooting occurred and could provide no information about the shooting; however, she believes the shooting was an accident.” In a summary of the probe so far, the GBI said, “The Peachtree City Police Department requested the GBI conduct an investigation of the shooting. The investigation has revealed the shooting occurred in the bedroom of the home. Chief McCollom fired his service weapon once, striking Ms. McCollom in the back. Ms. McCollom was airlifted to the Atlanta Medical Center to be treated for her injury. Chief McCollom has been cooperating with GBI agents working the investigation.
When the GBI completes the investigation, it will be turned over to Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard.” McCollom’s condition steadily improved from “critical” on her first day in the hospital to “good” as of Tuesday morning, according to an AMC spokesperson. Chief McCollom has issued no statement as of Tuesday, and the GBI offered no other details beyond the news release above.
Ballard said the agency may express its view pertaining to whether a crime has been committed, “But usually they just give the facts.” As in any case, Ballard stressed the need to wait until all the facts are presented before determining if a crime has been committed and if charges will be filed.
GBI Public Affairs Director Sherry Lang on Monday said, “We let the facts speak for themselves.” It is the prosecutor who determines if charges in a particular case will be brought, Lang added. Maggie McCollom was shot in the back early New Year’s Day as she slept in the couple’s home at 103 Autumn Leaf in south Peachtree City. Chief McCollom — who is on administrative leave from his position — told a 911 dispatcher just after 4 a.m. that his 9mm Glock service handgun was in bed with the couple and accidentally fired when he “went to move it and put it to the side.” McCollom in the 911 recording released Jan. 2 said his wife had been shot. McCollom said he had shot her accidentally and asked for medical assistance ASAP.
Asked where she was shot, McCollom said she was shot in the back.
