The 10-year-old daughter of a California policeman has shot her younger sister with their father's gun in an apparent accident.

The eight-year-old girl is in a stable condition after being shot in the torso, Lieutenant Joe Gomez of Fresno police said.

Mr Gomez told the Fresno Bee that the girls' father, a sheriff's lieutenant, had removed the magazine on his handgun before leaving it on a bed while he got ready for work.

The 10-year-old girl then grabbed the gun and discharged a bullet left in the chamber, hitting her sister.

The officer immediately called 911 for an ambulance and notified Fresno police, Mr Gomez said.

Madera County sheriff Jay Varney said the gun used was the policeman's service weapon and the officer would not be suspended over the incident.