LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- An 11-year-old Loudon County boy has accidentally shot his mother in the head, sending her to the hospital in critical condition.
Loudon County Sheriff's Department Lt. Patrick Upton said the unnamed child found the loaded .22 Derringer pistol between the mattress and slats of a bunk bed.
Upton said 35-year-old Stacy Duggan kept the gun there for protection. He said children slept in the beds but the mother sometimes slept there too.
WATE-TV reports that the boy found the gun at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and accidentally shot his mother in the back of the head.
Upton said the state Department of Children's Services has been contacted. He said there could be charges filed later, but the accident is still under investigation.
