A tragic incident in Los Angeles has left a family of four dead, with authorities identifying the mother as the perpetrator. Marine Basmajian, 29, allegedly shot and killed her husband, Khajag Basmajian, 31, along with their two young children, Alec, aged two, and Ella, who was just six days old, before taking her own life. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police responded to multiple emergency calls reporting the shooting at the family’s North Hills residence, valued at approximately $833,000. Details about what led to this heartbreaking event remain unclear, but there are suspicions that postpartum depression may have played a role.
Neighbor Karen Banuelos expressed her sorrow over the situation, telling the Los Angeles Times that the incident is profoundly distressing. “Postpartum depression is real,” Banuelos said, highlighting that Marine had just given birth to her second child days before the tragedy.
“To get possessed to do that? It’s just, there’s no words,” Banuelos added, reflecting the community’s shock and grief over the devastating loss.
‘It’s so depressing, it’s so devastating for everyone. Postpartum [depression] is real,’ Karen Banuelos told the Los Angeles Times, referring to Marine having her second child just days before.
‘To get possessed to do that? It’s just, there’s no words,’ she added.
Marine has been remembered as a doting mother, according to a GoFundMe page that was shared after their deaths.
‘Marine was a caring mother and wife who found comfort in organization and enjoyed gatherings among her loved ones,’ the fundraiser read.
Marine Basmajian (right), 29, shot and killed her husband, Khajag Basmajian (middle), 31, and their two young kids, Alec (left) and Ella, on Wednesday at the family’s home in North Hills, California
Ella (pictured) was just six days old when she was killed
It remains unclear what sparked the deadly incident, but according to an online tribute, Marine was a doting mother
The fundraiser also acknowledged Khajag, a Staff Cloud Platform Engineer at the financial operations software platform BlackLine, as a ‘devoted husband, loving father, cherished son, brother, and friend.’
‘To know him is to love him. With a beaming smile on his face and a positive outlook on life, he was truly a friend you could count on,’ it continued.
The page further detailed how Alec was so excited to have a new baby sister.
‘Alec brought joy and laughter wherever he went. With his bright smile and cheerful eyes taking after his father, he loved his toy vehicles and getting a taste for life one bite at a time (ice cream was his favorite).
‘Alec couldn’t wait to meet his baby sister Ella who only lived to see the world Earth side for 6 days,’ the fundraiser detailed.
At the time of the shooting, Banuelos said she didn’t hear gunfire, but did recall hearing ‘a commotion,’ she told The LA Times.
When Banuelos peered out her window that night, she saw police officers arrive at the family’s home and immediately rush inside. She also saw a family member running out of the home in tears, the neighbor told the outlet.
She soon learned what happened after the grandfather of the children told another neighbor the devastating news, Banuelos said.
Khajag was a Staff Cloud Platform Engineer at the financial operations software platform BlackLine
A neighbor said she never saw the family fighting and had just seen Khajag take out the trash about an hour before shots rang out that night
Another neighbor, who did not wish to be identified, told KTLA 5 they never saw the family fighting.
The neighbor also recalled seeing Khajag taking the trash out around 7pm, about an hour before shots rang out, while she walked her dog.
Paula Smith, another local, told the outlet she had no idea what was going on after hearing first responders speed over to the house.
‘We live a few blocks away and we heard all the helicopters last night. We didn’t know what was going on,’ she told the outlet through tears.
‘But to wake up this morning and to hear about this and these kids, it’s really heartbreaking. So go home and love the people you love. If someone is hurting, please reach out. Don’t be ashamed.’
When contacted by the Daily Mail for comment, Officer Norma Eisenman with the LAPD said there are no updates in the case.
