Tulsa Police: 3-Year-Old Accidentally Shot, Killed Mother

A single gunshot silenced the Tulsa neighborhood after 3-year-old boy accidentally took the life of his own mother.

It was an emotional night as family members learned what happened in the living room of a home near 1st Street and 168th East Avenue.

"It was a horrible, horrible accident," Homicide Detective, Dave Walker said.

Police said the 26-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

The woman's mother-in-law, who also lived at the home, made the gruesome discovery and called for an ambulance around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

At the time of the shooting, detectives said the young woman was at home alone with her two children, a 3-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl.

Investigators said the woman did not shoot herself, but that her son got ahold of high-caliber handgun and accidentally pulled the trigger.

Police said it looked as if the woman was changing her 1-year-old daughter's diaper when the shooting happened.

They also said the little boy tried to get out of the house before his grandmother showed up.

Detectives said the home appeared to be child-proof, so they're still sorting out the details as to where the gun was and how it got into the toddler's hands.

Since the little boy is the only witness, he was questioned.

"Our 3 year old is obviously our best person to talk to at this time, so going with some experts that can question children," Walker said.

While child specialists talked with the toddler, his younger sister was placed with family and friends.

The little boy was later reunited with his family.

As for the woman's husband, he was working out of state when the shooting happened. He returned home to the terrible news around 8:00 Monday night.

Police have not released the woman's name.