Gun in Deadly Walmart Shooting Was in Special Purse

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A 2-year-old boy removed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun from his mother's purse and shot her in the head, killing her instantly.

That's according to new information released Wednesday by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The bullet struck 29-year-old Veronica Rutledge and killed her on Tuesday morning inside the Wal-Mart store in the town of Hayden, Idaho. The sheriff's office says the manager of the store stepped in and removed the firearm from the child.

The sheriff's office says the gun was in the woman's purse, which was new and was designed to carry a concealed firearm. Detectives are analyzing video from the store and continue to examine the weapon and interview witnesses.