A 4-year-old boy was found shot to death Wednesday in his suburban Parkland apartment. His mother, who was wounded, said she did it, the Pierce County sheriff’s department said.

The boy’s body was found on the floor of a pantry. He might have been dead for some time, Lt. Jim Jenkins said.

The 32-year-old mother suffered a bullet wound to the chest. She was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center and was expected to live.

The woman’s parents had gone to see their daughter, who takes medicine for mental problems, he said. When they were unable to contact her they entered the apartment with the help of a maintenance worker.