LOS ANGELES - The accidental fatal shooting of a US woman by her own two-year-old son at a Walmart store has left her family devastated and again raised questions about gun safety in America.
Veronica Rutledge was out shopping with her son and three nieces Tuesday in Hayden, Idaho when the child unzipped her handbag -- specially designed to carry a concealed weapon -- and the gun went off.
The 29-year-old nuclear research scientist, who held a concealed-carry permit, got the bag last week as a Christmas gift from her husband Colt Rutledge, with whom she shared a passion for guns.
An inquisitive two-year-old boy reached into the purse, unzipped the compartment, found the gun and shot his mother in the head, her father-in-law Terry Rutledge told the Washington Post newspaper.
It's a terrible, terrible incident.
He added that his son, the victim's husband, now is grappling with how to break the news to the youngster, the couple's only child.
He has a two-year-old boy right now who doesn't know where his mom is and he'll have to explain why his mom isn't coming home, he said.
And then, later on his life, as he questions it more, he'll again have to explain what happened, so we'll have to relive this several times over.
Veronica Rutledge was a scientist at the Idaho National Laboratory, a federal research facility in the east of the state, and co-authored a number of published papers.
She and her husband -- the couple married in 2009 -- shared a keen interest in guns, spending time at shooting ranges and going out hunting.
AFP
