Two-year-old dead after using gun he found in mother's handbag

A two-year-old boy shot and killed himself after taking a gun from his mother's handbag on the kitchen counter when she was not watching, Indianapolis police have said.

Officers found the child with a single gunshot wound when they arrived at the house at around 9pm, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.

The boy died at a children's hospital. nn

The mother is co-operating with detectives, who questioned her before she was released, police said.

The woman and boy were the only people at home when the shooting happened, police added.

They have not released the identities of the mother and child.

Detective stands in the garage connected to the home where a 2-year-old boy fatally shot himself Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/KhWzpGLfYs

— Michael Anthony Adams (@MichaelAdams317) April 21, 2016