A little girl has died in New Orleans after apparently accidentally shooting herself in the head while playing with a gun.
Police said charges could be forthcoming over the five-year-old's death, with some reports saying her mother, Laderika Smith, 28, could face a charge of second-degree murder.
CNN reports that the police were called to the child's home on Sunday morning where they found her in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to her head.
She was rushed to hospital but later died from her injury.
In a statement, New Orleans police said the girl had been in the house by herself when the incident occurred.
"A preliminary investigation indicates the child was home alone and had somehow come into contact with a .38-caliber revolver and accidentally shot herself in the head," officers said.
Her mum told the police she had locked the little girl in the house while she went to the shops.
She said that when she got back home, she found the child in the bedroom with the gunshot wound.
The gun was recovered at the scene, and an autopsy is due to take place on the child today. Witnesses said that the gun belonged to a friend and was being temporally kept at the home.
Police have not released the child's name, as not all of her family have been informed of her death.
Neighbours told TV reporters at WWL TV they were 'shocked and devastated' at the news.