Two-year-old shoots, kills mother in US

This January 29, 2014 file photo shows shoppers outside a Walmart store in Rosemead, California. A two-year-old boy on December 30, 2014 accidentally shot and killed his mother in a Walmart store after taking a gun from her purse, police said. AFP PHOTO | FREDERIC J. BROWN | FILES 

In Summary

• Police identified the victim as Veronica Rutledge of Blackfoot, Idaho.
• Ms Rutledge, who was spending the holidays in the area, had a concealed weapons permit, the sheriff's office confirmed.

By AFP
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LOS ANGELES

A two-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother Tuesday at a Walmart store in Idaho after taking a gun from her purse.

Police identified the victim as Veronica Rutledge of Blackfoot, Idaho. The shooting took place in the store in Hayden, Idaho, where she was shopping with her children and other family members.

"Once on scene, deputies found a 29-year-old victim was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound," Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said in a statement.

"Her son was seated in the shopping cart and accessed the victim's concealed weapon from her purse and discharged it, striking the victim," he added, noting that the shooting appeared to be accidental.

Rutledge, who was spending the holidays in the area, had a permit to carry concealed weapons, the sheriff's office confirmed.

"A very sad incident occurred at our store today involving the death of a female customer," the local Walmart said in a statement.

"We are fully cooperating with the Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies as they investigate this matter."

KREM television reported that Rutledge was in the store with three other children. Police did not immediately confirm that information.

The fatal shooting took place in the electronics section of the store, KXLY television reported.

Authorities sent psychologists to help employees needing assistance, it added. The store, which was evacuated, will be closed on Wednesday.