Children Accidentally Shoot and Kill Their Mother After Finding a Loaded Gun in Her Purse.

A North Carolina mother has passed away after police say her children found a loaded gun in her purse and shot her.

Officers responded around 6:55 p.m. to reports of a shooting at Cornelius Village Apartments on Meridian Street off of Catawba Avenue in Cornelius, North Carolina. When they entered the apartment they found several hysterical children and a woman mortally wounded on a bed in a back bedroom. The woman, identified as 25-year-old Gabriel "Gabby" Alexis Henderson, had accidentally be shot and killed by one of her four younger children. The weapon lay on the bed next to her body.

According to WSCO TV, investigators believe one of the kids found the gun inside their mom’s purse and somehow the gun went off, killing Henderson and injuring her youngest child.

The child was taken by MEDIC to Atrium Main in Charlotte but is expected to be OK.

The oldest child was in the living room, away from the others when the shooting occurred, police said.

Neighbors told Channel 9 that Henderson will be missed. They said she was a loving mother who always looked out for all the children in the community.

“She was awesome, she was helpful to everybody. She helped me a lot because I have children so she always looked out for my kids when I needed her when I was working,” one resident said. “She was just really a good mom. She worked really hard to be the best that she could be.”

Police did inquire whether there may have been someone else responsible for Henderson's death but, neighbors and the children, insisted that only Henderson and her children lived in the apartment and there was no one else there.

Henderson's family has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for her final arrangements and to help with any expenses her children may have. If you can, we ask that you donate any amount that you are able to. These babies are going to need a lot of support and counseling in the near future.

Parents, we're asking you to please make sure that your guns are in a safe place, out of the reach of any unwanted hands. Lock up your weapons and save a life. Please.