(CNN) -- A 29-year-old mother was fatally shot Tuesday in an Idaho Walmart when her 2-year-old son in the shopping cart grabbed a gun that was in her purse and shot her in an apparent accident, authorities said.
Detectives were investigating the scene and Walmart officials immediately shuttered the store in Hayden, said the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The mother was identified by the sheriff's office as Veronica J. Rutledge. At the time, the mother and son were shopping with other family members, authorities said.
"The shooting appears to be accidental," said a statement by Sheriff Ben Wolfinger and Lt. Stu Miller.
At a press conference, Miller said the mother was shopping at the back of the store in the electronics department.
"It appears that the victim brought several of her children here to do some shopping after the holidays," Miller told reporters in the parking lot. ".
"Here it is around the holidays, just after Christmas and right before the New Year -- tragic, tragic accident," Miller said. "It's not a pleasant experience right now." The shooting occurred about 10:20 a.m.
"A very sad incident happened in our store in Hayden, Idaho, that involved a female customer," said Walmart spokesperson Brooke Buchanan. "We are working closely with the local sheriff's department as they investigate what happened." The Walmart will reopen Wednesday morning, officials said.
When and how do parents educate children about guns?
Detectives were investigating the scene and Walmart officials immediately shuttered the store in Hayden, said the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The mother was identified by the sheriff's office as Veronica J. Rutledge. At the time, the mother and son were shopping with other family members, authorities said.
"The shooting appears to be accidental," said a statement by Sheriff Ben Wolfinger and Lt. Stu Miller.
At a press conference, Miller said the mother was shopping at the back of the store in the electronics department.
"It appears that the victim brought several of her children here to do some shopping after the holidays," Miller told reporters in the parking lot. ".
"Here it is around the holidays, just after Christmas and right before the New Year -- tragic, tragic accident," Miller said. "It's not a pleasant experience right now." The shooting occurred about 10:20 a.m.
"A very sad incident happened in our store in Hayden, Idaho, that involved a female customer," said Walmart spokesperson Brooke Buchanan. "We are working closely with the local sheriff's department as they investigate what happened." The Walmart will reopen Wednesday morning, officials said.
When and how do parents educate children about guns?
Let's not blame the gun. It gets all the gun nut people upset.
Unfortunately we live in a gun culture and for every one story of guns protecting people...there are many more like this one. When you buy a gun...you are more likely to be killed by it or kill a family member than killing an intruder...but hey...let's listen to something written before we had a police force or street lights...that's more important.
Unfortunately we live in a gun culture and for every one story of guns protecting people...there are many more like this one. When you buy a gun...you are more likely to be killed by it or kill a family member than killing an intruder...but hey...let's listen to something written before we had a police force or street lights...that's more important.
Let's not blame the gun. It gets all the gun nut people upset.
Unfortunately we live in a gun culture and for every one story of guns protecting people...there are many more like this one. When you buy a gun...you are more likely to be killed by it or kill a family member than killing an intruder...but hey...let's listen to something written before we had a police force or street lights...that's more important.
Unfortunately we live in a gun culture and for every one story of guns protecting people...there are many more like this one. When you buy a gun...you are more likely to be killed by it or kill a family member than killing an intruder...but hey...let's listen to something written before we had a police force or street lights...that's more important.
