A three-year-old has grabbed a gun and shot a murder suspect and his own mother in the US state of Indiana.

The toddler, who according to reports is a boy, fired just one bullet which struck both Trayshaun Smith, 23, and the youngster’s 21-year-old mum Jalynn Artis.

Smith was taken into custody by police in Lafayette after he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

He was arrested on an active murder warrant which had been issued in neighbouring Cook County, Illinois.

He and Ms Artis, who was also not seriously injured in the shooting, are friends, according to police.

Lafayette officers were called after a report of two people being shot shortly after 8.30pm last Thursday at an apartment in the city.

Smith had been visiting the property.

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Officers have not disclosed how the child got access to the gun or what led to him firing the weapon.

The Indiana Department of Child Services was contacted about the youngster getting hold of the gun but “no immediate action was taken”, Lieutenant Justin Hartman told USA Today.

As of Monday morning, there have not been any additional arrests or charges regarding the toddler accessing the gun but the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case, the website added.

Lafayette is about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

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