Three-year-old boy dies after shooting himself in mother's bedroom

A three-year-old boy has fatally shot himself in his mother's bedroom, police have said.

Savion Barrow was at home when he fired the semi-automatic handgun at himself. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The tragedy unfolded in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The youngster's mother told police she was in the bedroom watching television when she heard the gunshot.

"She turned around, and there he was on the bed with the gun," police spokesman Mark Bollinger said.

Detectives were still trying to work out where the gun had been and how the boy got hold of it.

The boy's father was not home at the time and his 10-year-old sister was in another part of the house.

Police were yet to say if any criminal charges would be brought.