Police: Boy, 9, killed by classmate

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Alaskan police said they are investigating the shooting death of a 9-year-old boy by a fourth-grade classmate, also 9, following an argument.

Spencer Polty was shot in the chest with what state police troopers described as a "high powered .17-caliber pellet rifle" outside the small town of Pilot Station, which is situated on the lower Yukon River, the Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.

The name of the shooter was not released because he is a minor.

The boys were classmates but not friends, relatives of Spencer said.

It was not clear what the boys were arguing about.

Joyce Polty, Spencer's mother, said he was playing with his cousin Friday afternoon when they were joined by a third boy, who was carrying an air rifle. About 1:45 p.m. the cousin rushed into the house and told her the other boy had shot Spencer.

The mother rushed to the site of the shooting on her four-wheeler and found her son lying on the ground. She said she carried him to a hospital on the four-wheeler but the staff was unable to revive him