Los Angeles police homicide detectives believe the slaying of a family of four, including a baby, in a quiet San Fernando Valley neighborhood was the result of a murder-suicide, authorities said.
Officers discovered two adults and two young children with fatal gunshot wounds inside their North Hills home Wednesday after being called to the scene around 7:50 p.m. The deceased were described as a man and a woman in their 20s, an elementary-school-age child and a 4-month-old infant.
Evidence initially gathered at the crime scene suggested it was the mother who shot the man and two children before dying by suicide, according to law enforcement sources.
“This is an absolute tragedy, and given the number of deceased, the Robbery-Homicide [Division] is handling the investigation,” said Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Mike Bland.
Bland said there are no suspects at large and detectives believe the incident was a murder-suicide.
Detectives responded to the home in the 16000 block of Londelius Street shortly after patrol officers from the Devonshire Division and immediately began examining the crime scene along with forensic technicians.
Neighbor Karen Banuelos said: “I heard a commotion; I never heard the shots.”
She said she looked out her window and saw the police arrive, run in and saw family relatives running out, crying. Banuelos said the police, once they entered, were not in a rush and it became obvious that there was no one to save or arrest.
Banuelos said that the grandfather of the children spoke to another neighbor and revealed what happened.
“This is so devastating for everyone. Postpartum is real,” Banuelos said, after noting the mother had recently delivered a baby. “But what possesses you to do that? There are just no words.”