Murder-suicide or suicide pact suspected in deaths of Chino Hills brothers, 10 and 12

Homicide investigators suspect that the shooting deaths of two young brothers near their family’s home in Chino Hills was the result of a murder-suicide or a suicide pact, but added that it will be difficult to ever know for sure.

The handgun used in Tuesday’s shootings was found near the bodies of Bryan Gonzalez, 12, and his brother, Christian, 10, Sgt. Frank Bell of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

“Whether it was murder-suicide or suicide pact, unfortunately we’ll never know for sure,” Bell said. “It’s hard to believe, to wrap your head around.”

Bell said there were no indications of trouble at home or signs of abuse. The boys recently had been given minor punishment for not doing their chores, but it was nothing out of the ordinary, he said. The parents have been fully cooperating with investigators.

“The kids were well taken care of, and the house was in order,” Bell said.

Authorities said they received a call shortly before noon Tuesday from a family member who discovered the boys’ bodies about 60 feet behind the Gonzalez home, which is on a ranch on Mystic Canyon Drive between Twin Knowles Drive and Via La Cresta.

Neighborhood resident Holly Acord, 18, said she was at a nearby park with her children and boyfriend Tuesday morning when she heard two gunshots shortly before the time the boys were found dead.

Acord said the shots were about 20 seconds apart. She didn’t think much of it because there is a pistol range nearby and it’s not unusual to hear gunfire. She said, however, that she realized something had occurred when, a few minutes later, she saw police and fire rescue units racing up the winding road to the ranch.

The boys were pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsies were conducted Wednesday.

As the investigation progresses, investigators will try to determine if the firearm used in the shooting was properly secured, which is required under state law, Bell said. The handgun belonged to the boys’ father, he said.

“There are laws that require that guns be kept secure and inaccessible to those under 18,” Bell said. “That’ll be something looked at down the road.”

The family’s home is in Mystic Hills near Chino Hills State Park and just off the 71 Freeway. Several families live in homes on the ranch, which houses a construction company, a firewood operation and other enterprises.

Bell said the Gonzalez family has lived on the property for five or six years, and that the father, Francisco Gonzalez, works for one of the companies at the ranch. The boys’ mother, Maria Magania, works at a nearby Burger King. The boys had no other siblings.

phil.willon@latimes.com