A father and his two young sons were found dead with gunshot wounds in a Los Angeles apartment over the weekend in what police are investigating as a suspected murder-suicide, authorities said.
Officers responded to a reported assault with a deadly weapon shooting incident on the 8000 block of Owensmouth Avenue in the Canoga Park neighborhood around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told NTD via email Monday.
Once inside the San Fernando Valley residence, police discovered three people suffering from gunshot wounds, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene.
"At this time, Robbery Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section, is at-scene, actively investigating an apparent murder-suicide," the spokesperson said.
No further details were provided about the shooting, including a possible motive or what led up to the incident. The spokesperson did not confirm the identities and ages of the man and children as the investigation remains ongoing.
However, speaking with KTLA 5 News, officials said the man was in his 40s and the boys, who were believed to be twins, were around 10 years old. Police also told the station that investigators believe the children's father fatally shot his sons before turning the gun on himself during a family gathering at the apartment, which is located directly across the street from Lanark Park.
Local media coverage showed a large response from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department along Owensmouth Avenue near Strathern Street, where the area was blocked off with yellow police tape.
A crowd of family members, friends, and neighbors could also be seen gathered outside the apartment complex as a woman collapsed in tears after getting out of an ambulance. It is unclear whether she is the children's mother or another relative of the victims.
NTD reached out to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office for any available information, but a response was not received by publication time. The Los Angeles Fire Department was unable to share any additional details about the case.