US toddler shoots younger brother

A three-year-old girl in the US state of California has accidentally shot her younger brother dead with a gun found in her home, say police.

The girl is believed to have found the .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun under her parents' bed.

Her two-year-old brother was taken to Kern County hospital with a critical chest wound but later died.

Police investigating the incident said the children's mother had been at home at the time.

Police Sgt Greg Terry said police would be looking at whether the weapon had been safely and securely secured.

"It's so important that if you're going to have firearms in your possession, make sure they're stored safely, so that incidents like this don't occur," local media quoted Sgt Terry as saying.

BBC NEWS REPORT.