The father-in-law of a mother fatally shot in an Idaho Walmart by her 2-year-old son says she did n't have a mean bone in her body . `` Everybody that met her , knew her , loved her , '' Terry Rutledge said about Veronica Rutledge , 29 . She died Tuesday after her young son shot her accidentally while they were out shopping with other family members , authorities said . Rutledge -- who put herself through school and was a chemical engineer -- `` was a fun-loving , outgoing , outdoorsy person , '' said Terry Rutledge . `` Her family liked to camp , hike , do outdoorsy things . They loved being together , '' he said . He said that Veronica Rutledge had carried a gun for years and had extensive training . `` I can not put any blame on my daughter-in-law because I know her , the training she 's had ... I do n't take it lightly ... I can not put any negligence on her part . It was a terrible accident . '' Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger revealed details of the accident following an autopsy on Wednesday . According to Wolfinger , the toddler removed the 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun from his mother 's new handbag , one that was `` specifically designed for concealed carry of a firearm , '' he said . `` The 2-year old removed the firearm from the purse and fired one bullet from the pistol . The bullet struck Mrs. Rutledge in the head , killing her instantly . '' The store 's manager , who was nearby at the time , `` stepped in and removed the firearm from the child , '' Wolfinger said .
Veronica Rutledge , 29 , was fatally shot by her 2-year-old son . Her father-in-law remembers her as outgoing , fun-loving and kind . Gun was removed from special-designed purse for concealing firearms .