UPDATE: Per the Associated Press, police have confirmed that the woman was the boy's mother.
BREAKING: Idaho authorities confirm woman fatally shot by 2-year-old at Wal-Mart was child's mother.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2014Authorities say a woman was accidentally shot and killed by a 2-year-old inside of an Idaho Walmart today.
According to the Associated Press, the woman was shopping in the electronics section of the Hayden, Idaho location this morning when the boy reached inside of her purse, accidentally discharging the weapon. It remains unclear how the woman was related to the boy, and the Associated Press adds that she was shopping with several children at the time of her death.
Walmart Media Relations Senior Manager Aaron Mullins expressed grief over the tragedy in a brief statement:
A very sad incident occurred at our store today involving the death of a female customer. We are fully cooperating with the Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies as they investigate this matter.
The Associated Press reports that the unidentified woman had a permit to carry the weapon. The store, which closed following the accident, is scheduled to reopen tomorrow morning.
[via Associated Press]
