A four-year-old girl from Aiken County is expected to be OK after accidentally shooting herself with her grandmother's gun.

It happened at a Sam's Club in Columbia on Monday.

Investigators believe the child was sitting in the shopping cart pushed by her grandmother, Aiken County Magistrate Donna Hutto Williamson.

Police say the child pulled the gun out of Williamson's purse and accidentally shot herself in the chest.

Police say none of the child's major organs were hit by the bullet.

"The child was shot just below the sternum and the bullet traveled downward and exited just above the top of her buttocks," says Columbia Police Capt. Thomas Dodson.

"Believe it or not probably the ballistics on a .32 are less damaging than that of a .22 or .25. The velocity of the round is slower. The mass is a little bit more on the bullet. The .22 because it weighs so little and travels so fast, tends to ricochet around inside the body so it's probably actually better that it was a larger caliber round," says Dodson.

CPD spokesman Brick Lewis said Monday Williamson has not been charged with a crime, but Tuesday Dodson said charges appear likely, possibly child endangerment or unlawful neglect of a child.

Police and the solicitor's office are also looking at the possibility of an unspecified weapons charge.

Dodson says Williamson has a valid concealed weapons permit and did have her card with her at the time of the shooting.

Concealed weapons are prohibited in South Carolina courthouses.

"We certainly believe that if the grandmother had seen she had a firearm in her hand, she would have reacted before the incident happened. Looks like grandmama's doing what people would do and that's shopping. She's got her mind on shopping and she's fairly secure her grandchild was right there in front of her," says Dodson.

Sam's Club, along with many other private businesses, does not ban customers from carrying concealed weapons.

State law says active magistrates can carry concealed weapons "while on duty." It also says anyone with a concealed weapon permit must have their permit ID card in their possession while carrying a gun.

While experts say unfortunate accidents like this can happen, where a gun owner keeps their weapon could help prevent these types of incidents.

Experts say a gun should never be carried in your purse or briefcase. You should always carry a gun on your body and keep it in a holster that fits.

WIS News 10 contributed to this report.