Two young children and their father are dead in what WA Police have labelled a suspected double-murder suicide in Perth's south-eastern suburbs.
WARNING: This story contains detail that may be distressing to some readers.
Police discovered the bodies of a 40-year-old man, a 6-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl after being called to a Huntingdale property just after 6:30pm on Friday.
The exact cause of death is being examined and the investigation will include all events leading to the incident.
Assistant Commissioner Allan Adams said the children's mother had gone to pick them up from another location, but they were not there.
She asked her family for help locating them, after which a call was made to triple-0 from the Huntingdale home.
Along with offering condolences to the family and community, he said support was being offered to first responders.
"We can only begin to imagine the trauma caused to the family," Assistant Commissioner Adams said.
"On that basis, any questions around family background and issues within the family, I'm not going to reply or answer.
"At this time of extreme grief and trauma for those families, it doesn't help that issues that might have been besetting the family are discussed today."
Police said the bodies of the children were found inside the home, while their father's body was found inside a garage at the rear.
"That initial response doesn't give rise to any other person being involved," Assistant Commissioner Adams said.
He said support would be extended to both the family and first responders.
"Dealing with these issues, even though police are subject to trauma on a regular basis ... nothing prepares you for this," he said.
"That support that police officers require in the aftermath is so important and so critical."
'Every bit of information could be vital'
Dozens of officers have established a crime scene at the home in Huntingdale.
Much of the street was taped off and guarded by officers, with a police chaplain on site.
The investigation is currently being led by the major crime division, with support from the homicide squad and local detectives.
Assistant Commissioner Adams said that process was still in its early stages.
"Every bit of information could be vital in regards to the investigation of this matter," he said.
"If you have any information that you believe will assist the investigators work out exactly what's happened in this incident, please make contact."
'Utter sense of compassion' for those involved: Minister
Neighbours said they were shocked and saddened to hear about the deaths.
One man, who said he had lived on Essington Street for more than four decades, described it as a quiet street with very little antisocial behaviour.
He told the ABC he had seen a man living at the home with two young children, but did not know them.
WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby expressed his condolences to the family and thanked the first responders who had attended the house.
"Our heart goes out to everyone involved. Our heart goes out to the family, the loved ones," Mr Whitby said.
"We don't know the full circumstances, we'll leave that to the police to investigate, but I just want to express our deep condolences and utter sense of compassion for the people involved."
