Authorities Identify Mother Responsible for Tragic Family Deaths in Apparent Murder-Suicide

The tragic incident involving a mother who fatally shot her husband and two young children in Los Angeles has been brought to light. Authorities have identified the woman as 29-year-old Marine Basmajian.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Marine Basmajian killed her husband, Khajag Basmajian, aged 31, along with their two-year-old son Alec and six-day-old daughter Ella, before taking her own life on Wednesday evening around 8 p.m. PT.

Police officers responded swiftly to the family’s North Hills residence, valued at $833,000, after receiving several reports of gunshots in the area.

The exact motive behind the heartbreaking incident remains unknown. However, a neighbor speculated that postpartum depression could have been a contributing factor.

“It’s incredibly depressing and devastating for everyone involved. Postpartum depression is a real issue,” said neighbor Karen Banuelos to the Los Angeles Times, noting that Marine had given birth to her second child just days prior.

‘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.