THE twin brothers who were believed to have been killed by their father during a birthday party have been identified by authorities.

Los Angeles police said twins Joseph and Greysen Chavez, 10, were the innocent victims of a horrific murder-suicide carried out by their 37-year-old father.

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A 37-year-old father fatally shot his twin sons, 10, before turning the gun on himself, police saidCredit: ABC7
 

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A woman believed to be a relative of the victim broke down in tears outside the apartment complexCredit: ABC7
The gut-wrenching incident occurred late on Sunday at an apartment complex in Canoga Park, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, where witnesses told police people gathered for a birthday party.

Police rushed to the residential complex after receiving reports of shots fired at around 7:15pm.

When authorities arrived at the scene they discovered the bodies of the 10-year-old twins and their father in a bedroom.

All three victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head. A handgun was recovered at the scene, Los Angeles police said.

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The father’s identity was not immediately released. A motive has not been established.

Neighbor Angela Figueroa said she did not hear the gunshots, but heard noise coming from the party.

“I was home all day. I heard them throwing a party and I thought it’s their usual thing,” Figueroa told NBC affiliate KNBC.

“They were sweet little boys. They didn’t deserve that.

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“I literally saw them that morning with their mom. We’re all still in shock. I really, I really didn’t believe it.”

Los Angeles police captain Mike Bland called the incident a “horrible situation.”

“It’s a horrible, tragic situation on the heels of the other one just over a week ago,” Bland said.

Another Los Angeles family was found dead in a murder-suicide that authorities believes was carried out by a mother.

Authorities said on May 27, Marine Basmajian, 29, shot and killed her 31-year-old husband, Khajad, and their two young children, Alec and Ella, before turning the gun on herself.

Alex was 2 years old, while Ella was listed as being 6 days old.

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The twin brothers were identified as Joseph and Greysen Chavez, both 10 years oldCredit: ABC7
 

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Distraught family members were pictured in the back of an ambulance near the sceneCredit: ABC7
Police responded to the family’s $833,000 home in North Hills after receiving reports of a shooting.

The medical examiner’s office listed the cause of death for Khajad and his children as a gunshot wound to the head.

A motive behind the tragedy has not been established; however, a neighbor claimed postpartum depression may have been a contributing factor.

“It’s so depressing, it’s so devastating for everyone. Postpartum is real,” neighbor Karen Banuelos told the Los Angeles Times.

“To get possessed to do that? It’s just, there’s no words.”

SOURCE: THE SUN