A man in Los Angeles is a suspect in the deadly stabbing of his three sons, aged eight to twelve, before allegedly stabbing himself in the chest early Wednesday.
The three brothers stabbed to death multiple times were found inside a sport utility vehicle parked in front of Dolores Huerta Elementary School in the mostly poor part of the city. The boys are not believed to have attended the school. Their father is the only suspect in the deadly stabbing, according to The New York Times.
Authorities said a passerby called police after finding the father injured inside the SUV. Officers and firefighters later arrived, soon finding the brothers stabbed to death in the backseat.
"I walked over towards the vehicle and I saw an individual slumped in the seat. As I started to get a little bit closer I saw blood all over him," said John Sorrentino, a witness, as told to KTLA. "The one boy I saw face to face, he had blood all over him."
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told said officers responded to the scene after 7 a.m. local time after 911 received the call Wednesday from Sorrentino, who reported an assault with a deadly weapon, according to Fox News.
The father who allegedly stabbed his three young sons to death was found in the front seat of the SUV bleeding heavily from stab wounds. He was soon removed from the vehicle and taken to a hospital. His condition remains serious, according to police. His identity has not been released and he has yet to be formally arrested.
"It is a sad day in Los Angeles, made only slightly better by the fact that we have a probable suspect in custody," Beck told reporters.
Officer Matthew Ludwig later said detectives believed the father to have stabbed his sons since there no other suspects have been identified. Police said they have recovered a knife from the front passenger seat.
The father's motive for stabbing his sons to death remains unclear, reported Reuters.
According to Beck, the mother of the boys stabbed to death is already deceased. Their stepmother is safe and is currently being interviewed by detectives.