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Peachtree City Police Chief William McCollom, who called 911 early New Year’s Day to report he accidentally shot his former wife as they slept in their home, has resigned.
“It was my pleasure to serve with the men and women of the Peachtree City Police Department in the capacity of Assistant Chief and Chief,” McCollom said Wednesday in a statement posted on the city’s website. “… In light of the recent tragedy in my personal family, I need to continue to focus my time and efforts there.”
The news came just days after Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard said he intends to present the case to a Fayette County Grand Jury on April 15, and will seek an indictment of misdemeanor reckless conduct.
The shooting reportedly left Margaret McCollom paralyzed. The GBI investigated the incident and turned the results of the investigation over to the district attorney.
William and Margaret McCollom were married 11 years until they divorced in 1999. He was married to another woman for 10 years, divorcing her after he moved from Florida to Peachtree City in 2012 to be the assistant police chief in the Fayette County city.
While previous reports indicated William and Margaret McCollom remarried in early 2014, a March 5 statement from Ballard’s office referred to William McCollom as the “former husband” of Margaret McCollom.
According to that statement, William McCollom went to bed about 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve after consuming alcohol and sleeping medication.
During the night, he was awakened by barking dogs, got out of bed and took his service weapon from its holster on a dresser and checked the house.
“Finding nothing, he returned to bed and placed the gun under the sheets beside his body and Mrs. McCollom’s,” according to the statement. “He was awakened by the sound of a single gunshot.
“Although at the present time there appears to be no evidence to support felony charges due to the accidental nature of the shooting, we do believe that the evidence should be presented to a grand jury for the possible charge of reckless conduct since the chief took a loaded gun to bed with him after ingesting alcohol and sleep medication.”
Immediately after the shooting, William McCollom was put on paid administrative leave while the GBI investigated. Peachtree City named Capt. Stan Pye to the post of acting police chief. He will remain in that position until a permanent replacement is named. City Manager James Pennington said Wednesday the search for a new chief will begin immediately.
“I know Council joins me in thanking Will for his service,” he said. “He and Maggie have our best wishes and heartfelt prayers as they focus on her journey back to health.”
Margaret McCollom remains at Shepherd Spinal Center, where she is being treated for “paralysis below the waist and numerous complications,” Ballard’s office said in the March 5 statement.
