13-year-old Iowa boy shot mother dead with hunting rifle, police say

A 13-year-old Iowa boy is in custody after telling police dispatchers he shot and killed his mother with a hunting rifle inside the family's home.

The child, identified as Noah Crooks, calmly called 911 at 7:31 p.m. Saturday night, saying he shot his 37-year-old mother at his home, about 9 miles west of Osage, the Des Moines Register reported.

The boy allegedly fired a .22-caliber hunting rifle multiple times into Crooks' chest, authorities told the newspaper.

Investigators have yet to determine a motive in the alleged murder -- the first in Mitchell County in 114 years, according to the newspaper.

"We're at a loss," Mitchell County Sheriff Curt Younker told the newspaper. "These are good people, very responsible. It is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen."

The newspaper reports that the boy is being held at the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Waterloo.

Mitchell County Attorney Mark Walk declined to say what charges will be filed but said the boy will be charged as a juvenile.

Click for more on this story from the Des Moines Register