GALENA — Authorities investigating the death of 2-year-old southwest Missouri boy now say the toddler accidentally shot himself in the face.
The little boy was the son of a Stone County sheriff's deputy. The child and parent haven't been publicly identified.
Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill issued a statement Monday saying the shooting happened around 9 a.m. Sunday at the family's home north of Galena.
Hill says the gun was privately owned, and was not the deputy's duty weapon.
The deputy is on administrative leave while the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigates.
The patrol confirmed the child was shot, but won't release more information until finishing the investigation.