Father kills twin sons, himself in Canoga Park murder-suicide

A father and his 10-year-old twin sons were found dead Sunday evening inside a Canoga Park apartment in what Los Angeles police are investigating as a murder-suicide, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The deaths left neighbors grieving and investigators searching for answers after three family members were found dead inside an apartment where residents said a gathering had been taking place.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 7:15 p.m. Sunday at a residential apartment in the Canoga Park neighborhood, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Upon entering the unit, they found three people dead — a man and his two sons, both 10 years old.

Authorities are treating the case as a murder-suicide in which the father is believed to have shot the boys before taking his own life. No identities have been released, and investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive. Medical examiner personnel were photographed removing the bodies from the apartment Monday morning.

Neighbors told ABC7 that a family gathering — possibly a birthday party — appeared to be underway at the time of the shooting, though police have not confirmed that detail.

Giovani Trejo, a neighbor, told ABC7 he was watching television when the incident unfolded.

Fellow resident Avy Perez said the community felt moved to offer support even without knowing the family personally. "Even though we may not see their family, we thought that they needed some prayer and some thought," Perez said, according to ABC7. "I know me personally, whether I know them or not, I would want to pray for someone, for healing and overall as a person, because that's sad and I don't wish that upon anybody."

Authorities have not released the names of any of the three victims. The investigation is ongoing.