Soldier on Leave Shot to Death

A West Texas woman has been charged with manslaughter in the weekend shooting death of an Army soldier on leave from Iraq, authorities said Monday.

Hill County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyons said Pvt. Cody Ryan Patterson, 20, suffered an apparent gunshot wound to his chest at a home in Blum, about 40 miles north of Waco. He was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.

A Hill County jail spokesman said April Thompson, 25, of Odessa, was charged with manslaughter Sunday after she was arrested in Glen Rose, about 30 miles west of Blum.

Her bond was set at $125,000. Jailers didn't know whether she had an attorney.

Lyons said Thompson told authorities she thought the gun was a toy. Authorities say she pulled the trigger after Patterson apparently told her it was an unloaded real weapon. Once she realized Patterson was dead, Thompson allegedly fled to Glen Rose, according to the arrest affidavit.

Patterson was assigned to the Army's 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss. A call by The Associated Press to an Army official Monday evening wasn't immediately returned.