Margaret McCollom’s status has been upgraded from serious to fair, three days after being shot by her husband, William McCollom, Peachtree City’s police chief, in their bedroom. She was initially in critical condition after the shooting, which occurred early the morning of New Year’s day. Mrs. McCollum was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center.

Chief McCollom has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), which is charged with the review of shootings involving police. He has not been charged with a crime. McCollom called 911 around 4 a.m. last Thursday to report the shooting. Although calm during the call, the police chief was distracted, with his wife heard moaning in the background.

In a transcript of the call, Chief McCollom tells the 911 operator that he had shot his wife in the back while moving the gun from the bed to the night stand. Moments later he said “everybody was asleep” when the shooting occurred. He said he and his wife were alone in the house. He told the operator that the shooting was accidental.

During the call McCollom told the operator that “I’m the chief of police.” When the operator asked if he was the chief of police of Peachtree City, McCollum said, “Yes. Unfortunately.” Police responded to the McCollom’s home shortly after 4:15 a.m. Investigators have not revealed where Mrs. McCollom was injured or what, if anything, might have led up to the shooting, although they have confirmed that the shooting happened in the bedroom.

William and Margaret McCollom were married 11 years, and divorced in 1999. They remarried in 2014 after he had been married to another woman for 10 years, divorcing her when he moved to Peachtree City in 2012 to become the assistant police chief. He was police chief in Tequesta, Fla before moving to Georgia, and spent almost 20 years at the Delray Beach Police Department. He became Peachtree City’s police chief last October.

According to Peachtree Mayor Vanessa Fleisch, McCollom has earned the admiration and respect of the police department since becoming chief. She said that they are concerned for the chief, as well as his injured wife, and want to make sure everything is done correctly in the investigation.

Many Peachtree City residents are waiting to hear Margaret McCollom’s side of the story, but many are upset about what happened, questioning why the police chief had his gun in the bed in the first place. Resident Walt Harman said he was concerned that if the police chief could not handle a gun any better than that that they have a problem.

Chief McCollom is cooperating with the investigation. He was questioned by the GBI on Thursday and then went to the hospital to be with his wife. The police department has also been cooperative.

Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said it could be a week or more before the GBI report is completed and he decides if the police chief will be charged with a crime.