Crime & Safety

2 Young Boys Killed By Father In Attempted Murder-Suicide: LAPD

The boys' father is in custody following the shooting, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two young brothers were shot and killed in the Pico-Union neighborhood Sunday afternoon, and their father is in custody after apparently shooting himself, according to police.

The victims were identified Monday as an 11-year-old boy and his 4-year-old brother. Their 35-year-old father, who is suspected in the killings, remained hospitalized Monday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officers responded at around 12:49 p.m. Sunday to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Catalina Street, where they found the two children suffering from gunshot wounds, along with their father, who had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported all three to local hospitals, where the children were pronounced dead. Their father was taken into custody while receiving treatment for his injuries, according to police.

Initial reports from ABC 7 and KTLA identified the older child as a 10-year-old girl, but police on Monday identified both victims as boys, ages 11 and 4.

Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The shooting occurred near Loyola High School, where a woman riding a Metro bus reportedly witnessed the gunfire in broad daylight and shouted for the driver to stop so the children could receive help, KTLA reported.

Metro told the station that investigators requested footage from the bus, which was passing through the area at the time and may have captured the shooting.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation by the LAPD's Juvenile Division.

Police said they are not seeking any additional suspects and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.