Irving police say a man is being charged with criminally negligent homicide after a woman was fatally shot through the wall at hotel room early Tuesday morning.
According to officials, 48-year-old Traci Reedy, along with her husband and teenage son, was inside a room at the Microtel Inn and Suites on the 3200 block of Irving Boulevard when a bullet came through the wall and struck her in the chest at about 1:15 a.m.
Reedy had been sitting up in the bed, with her husband and son in the room, when she was struck. Reedy's husband and son were not injured.
Police officers, the first to arrive at the hotel, gave Reedy CPR until paramedics arrived. The woman was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where she died shortly after arrival -- at the same hospital where she was born nearly five decades ago.
Irving police quickly determined the bullet that fatally struck Reedy was fired from an adjacent room. They began questioning a man and a woman who were staying in the room and learned the man, later identified as 36-year-old Michael Shane Gray, had been working on the gun when it accidentally fired.
After talking with the pair at the Irving Police Department, officials said they believe the shooting was accidental but that it still carried a consequence. Gray was charged with criminally negligent homicide and, if convicted, he'll face up to 2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to family, Reedy worked odd jobs and her husband is a truck driver. The family had been living at the motel for several weeks now; hoping to move into an apartment by Thanksgiving.
“Traci was very kind and caring, she lived for her two boys and mom and dad,” said Dodie Main, the victim’s aunt. “She would go out of her way for anybody and everybody, she was giving, loving, always had a smile on her face. She might not have had a penny, but she'd be there for you."
The beloved mother of two is described as generous and loving.
“Jack and Michael are both taking it very hard, as any teenager would. Losing their mom tragic like this,” said Main.
After she was shot, Reedy's husband told NBC 5 that she looked at him and said, “I’m hit.” She then laid down and said, “You can handle this.”
When Main was asked about what that may have meant she said, “We can all handle this, that she's gone on and we can all handle it.”
Gray has declined an interview request from NBC 5. Police said the woman that was with him is not expected to face any charges.
NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.
