Woman shot and killed at Idaho Wal-Mart by boy (2)

A two-year-old boy has accidentally shot and killed a woman after he reached into her purse at a Wal-Mart store in the US and the concealed gun fired.

Kootenai County sheriff's spokesman Lt Stu Miller said the woman was shopping at the store in Hayden with several children, and it is as yet unclear how or whether they are related.

Officials said the woman had a concealed weapons permit.

Lt Miller said on Twitter that the woman was in her late 20s. "Prelim investigation shows shooting was accidental," Lt Miller said in a tweet. Hayden is located in Kootenai County, north of Coeur d'Alene.

Lt Miller did not say on Twitter who fired the gun and could not immediately be reached by phone.

Local station KREM-TV reported the woman had been shopping with four children when one of them, who was believed to be about two years old, reached into her purse and grabbed the gun.

“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.

Ms Buchanan said the store had been closed and would remain so until further notice.

Reuters/PA