A 2-year-old Tokyo boy died over the weekend after being shot with his father's rifle, police said.

Naoki Tatematsu, the little boy, was confirmed dead from a gunshot wound to the chest early on Sunday afternoon.

His 5-year-old brother, who was with him at the time, said he had played with the gun while their father was out of the room.

Naoki's father, 39-year-old Meguro-ku doctor, Hideki Tatematsu, is being questioned about the case and may face a charge of aggravated negligence resulting in death, police said.

Police said the incident occurred while Naoki's father was cleaning his four weapons on Sunday afternoon in the family living room. He left the weapons on a table and went into another room. As he returned several minutes later, he heard a gunshot and found Naoki lying on the floor. His older son said he touched the rifle.

Tatematsu had been maintaining his weapons alone, but when he left the room, it appears as though his boys went in, began playing with the shotgun and fired it.

Tatematsu enjoyed clay shooting and had been to the firing range on Saturday. The Public Safety Commission had given him permission to own each of his four guns.

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