Updated: Toddler shoots, kills mother

A nuclear research scientist died Tuesday after her 2-year-old son pulled a loaded pistol from her purse and shot her while she was shopping at the Wal-Mart store in Hayden.

The horrific accident quickly attracted international attention, with media outlets worldwide carrying the story of Veronica J. Rutledge’s death.

Rutledge, a 29-year-old resident of Blackfoot, Idaho, died instantly.

“She was a beautiful, young, loving mother who was taken much too soon,” said her father-in-law Terry Rutledge. Read more . Becky Kramer, SR

I updated this post with this morning’s story, but I’m not sure what else is left to say here. A senseless tragedy is still a tragedy. A boy lost his mom. A husband lost his wife. Parents lost their daughter.

Be kind to each other today.