9 YEAR OLD BOY SHOT AND KILLED BY HIS FOURTH GRADE CLASSMATE AFTER ARGUMENT

Location: A nine-year-old boy was shot and killed in the Alaskan village of Pilot Station on Friday afternoon during an argument with another boy

A nine-year-old boy was shot and killed by his fourth-grade classmate after they got into an argument over the winner of 'student of the week', police believe.

Alaska State Troopers say Spencer Polty was killed by a shot to his chest  from a .17-caliber pellet rifle fired by another nine-year-old boy in Pilot Station on Friday afternoon.

The rifle has been described as 'high-powered' and is believed to have went off during an argument between the two boys. 

The victim's distraught mother, Joyce Polty, spoke about the incident.

'It seemed like a usual day,' she said. 'He wasn't causing any trouble. He wasn't teasing like he used to do. He was just jolly.'

She said told the Anchorage Daily News that in the afternoon, Spencer went out to play with his cousin and the boy suspected of firing the fatal shot, who was carrying an air rifle with him.

She says her son's cousin witnessed the shooting and ran into the house in a panic to tell her around 1.45pm.

The boy was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead soon after arrival.

Mrs Polty said she does not know what should happen to the boy accused of killing her son but said his mother apologized to her recently in the village store.

'I have to forgive him,' she said.

The village, with a population of about 600, is on the lower Yukon River.

The boy has not been identified and police are unsure what charges will be filed.