The deceased, Ayobiyi Cook

A 12-year-old boy has shot dead his mother in their Alabama home in the United States after initially lying about how she died.

Authorities said the child, who has not been publicly identified, let off a firearm early Saturday, August 6, killing his 29-year-old Nigerian mum, Ayobiyi Cook.

Cook’s husband, a police officer in nearby Birmingham, was at work at the time of the incident, Birmingham police told Washington Post.

It was not immediately clear who owned the gun and how the child got it.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the boy admitted to the incident after first fabricating a story about what had happened.

A statement by the authorities said there “appeared to be no forced entry into the home,” but “a man was seen fleeing from the residence.”

Detectives were unable to recover evidence, according to the statement.

In an updated statement, detectives said “the child eventually gave a true account of what happened.”

“The family has been cooperative throughout the process and the child will remain with them,” according to the statement. “This offense is a tragedy for the Cook family and the entire community.”

The case will be handled in the family court system.