Family Of 4 Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide At Santa Clarita Home

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA) - A husband and wife along with their 20-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son were found dead Friday in an apparent murder-suicide at a Santa Clarita home, authorities said.

The bodies were discovered about 7 a.m. in the 28800 block of Startree Lane, according to sheriff's department Lt. Rodney Moore.

Authorities discovered the bodies after being sent to the home on a request to perform a welfare check, officials said. Upon their arrivals, they found the four victims dead of gunshot wounds.

According to homicide detectives, it is believed that the family was killed by the father, who then committed suicide. Sheriff's Lt. Rodney Moore said the case "appears to be a murder-suicide in which the husband (Michael) shot and killed all three individuals and then turned the gun on himself."

The deceased were later identified in media accounts as 51-year-old Michael Birnkrant, the suspected shooter, his 47-year-old wife Amy, their daughter Drew -- who was in her early 20s -- and their 11-year-old son Sean.

Neighbors said the home served as a day care facility that was closed for the holidays, and that the suspect's wife worked as a pre-school teacher at a nearby public school. He reportedly worked as a driver.

There were no outstanding suspects in the investigation.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the sheriff's investigators at 323-890-5500.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)