A woman shopping in a Walmart store in northern Idaho was shot and killed by her toddler when he pulled her handgun from her purse and fired it accidentally.
The 29-year-old woman, identified as Veronica J. Rutledge from Blackfoot, Idaho, was shopping in the northern Idaho Walmart with family and her two year old son when the incident happened, according the Kootenai County Sheriff’s office in a released statement. Police say she had a concealed weapons permit.
KCSO on scene of a shooting at Hayden Walmart. Store has been closed. 1 female victim. Gathering details. More to follow.
— Lt. Stu Miller (@KCSO_LtMiller) December 30, 2014
The child was seated in the shopping cart when he grabbed a gun from her purse and fired it striking his mother.
"Preliminary investigation shows shooting was accidental," Lieutenant Stu Miller said in a tweet.
Prelim investigation shows shooting was accidental. 1 female victim late 20's is deceased.
— Lt. Stu Miller (@KCSO_LtMiller) December 30, 2014
The Sheriff’s office said detectives are currently processing the scene and the store will remain closed until Wednesday morning.
"A very sad incident occurred at our store today in Hayden involving the death of a female customer. We are working with the Kootenai Sheriff's department as they investigate what happened," Walmart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said.
Authorities say a 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother: http://t.co/jE41NilXAqpic.twitter.com/Vdk0npbsir
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 30, 2014