Police: Calif. boy spends 12 hours with parents’ bodies while wounded 3-year-old hides outside

Wounded 3-year-old, dead adults found at CA home

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A 5-year-old boy spent 12 hours with the bodies of his mother and father while his 3-year-old brother hid outside their Southern California home after being shot three times, authorities said Monday.

Anaheim police said the apparent murder-suicide happened late Sunday but wasn’t discovered until midmorning Monday, when a co-worker stopped by to see why the father hadn’t reported to work.

The co-worker instructed the 5-year-old to call 911, police said.

The 3-year-old boy was found conscious hiding behind trash cans on the side of the house, and was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center.

Sgt. Tim Schmidt told radio station KNX that the 3-year-old was shot three times, including in the chest and stomach. A trail of blood led to the boy.

“The 3-year-old hid for his life for 12 hours,” Schmidt told The Orange County Register.

Hospital spokesman John Murray cited confidentiality laws in declining to provide further details on the 3-year-old’s condition. There was no indication the 5-year-old was hurt.

The older boy was placed in child protective custody, Schmidt said.

Schmidt added that the 5-year-old told police his father tried to kill him.

Police responded to reports that gunshots were heard in the area Sunday night, but they could not find the origin.