The Associated Press

PADUCAH, Ky. - A woman who was shot at a Christmas party early Thursday morning died from a pellet from an air gun rifle, according a preliminary autopsy report.

Rhonda Williams, 44, of Paducah, was shot in the chest, police said. She was pronounced dead at Lourdes hospital.

"The cause of death is due to a single penetrating pellet wound of the left, upper chest, which lacerated her aorta," McCracken County Coroner Dan Sims said Friday. "It's the main artery to the heart and supplies the organs with blood. She bled internally due to the laceration of her aorta."

The shooting took place at a party at the home of Douglas A. Terrell, 32, and Susan Terrell, 37, at the Saxony Mobile Home Park on North Friendship Road.

Mr. Terrell has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Ms. Williams' small puncture wound to the chest was not immediately noticeable to emergency workers and sheriffs deputies when they arrived at the party at 2:18 a.m. Thursday. They found Ms. Williams on the floor in a pool of blood, with blood coming from her mouth, Sheriff Frank Augustus said.

It wasn't until she was taken to Lourdes hospital and X-rays taken that the puncture wound to the left chest was found, Sheriff Augustus said.