Father shoots, kills his 2 sons in attempted murder-suicide in Pico-Union

LOS ANGELES — Two young boys are dead, and their father is in critical condition following an alleged murder-suicide attempt Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles' Pico-Union District. 

The deadly shooting happened just before 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the area of Venice Boulevard and Catalina Street.

According to the LAPD, the 35-year-old father shot and killed his two boys, aged 4 and 10. He then turned the gun on himself but survived. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.  

The two boys were pronounced dead at a hospital, police said. Their names have not been released.

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Two children, aged 4 and 10, were shot to death in Los Angeles' Pico-Union.

While investigators haven't said what prompted the shooting, off camera the family said the couple had custody issues but believed they had worked things out. 

"My sister is a good mother," an aunt of the kids told FOX 11. 

They can only describe what happened as a father who may have snapped.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact LAPD Juvenile Division Detective Wilfredo Ortiz at 213-486-0530. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

The Source: Information for this story came from the Los Angeles Police Department and interviews with family members.