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South LA Mother In Police Custody After 1 Daughter Dies, 2nd Injured In Attempted Drowning

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A South Los Angeles mother was in police custody Wednesday morning after the near drowning of her two young daughters.

Officials received a call around 7:30 a.m. from a home in the 900 block of West 50th Place, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

When firefighters arrived, they found two girls, aged five and one, unconscious and not breathing.

Police believe the mother tried to drown both her children in the bathtub.

The girls' father called 911 after he found the girls unconscious in the home, police said.

"We don't know the exact circumstances of how it happened. We don't know the motive or why it happened, but at this point, we believe it was an intentional act committed upon these two children," said Cmdr. Andrew Smith of the LAPD.

The two girls were transported to California Hospital Medical Center where officials said both children arrived at the hospital with no vital signs.

The 1-year-old died at California Hospital, according to medical officials. Her 5-year-old sister was transported to Children's Hospital where she is listed in grave condition, an LAPD official said.

The unidentified mother is being questioned by police. It is unclear what, if any, charges she will face.

Neighbors say the family immigrated from Guatemala 10 years ago and that the mother had been suicidal in recent weeks.

"They seemed like a very happy family, nice family . . .  now this is like a very sad story," said neighbor Dina Cevallos.

Police initially reported that the girls died, then said about 9:30 a.m. that doctors were trying to revive them.

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