Girl, 4, hailed a ‘hero’ after keeping newborn brother alive for days after parents’ murder-suicide

A little girl has been called a ‘hero’ after managing to somehow keep her two-month-old brother alive following a murder-suicide at their home.

The children were alone for three days after their father, David Parsa, 46, shot their mother, Mihoko Koike, 38 and took his own life, law enforcement authorities have reported.

It’s believed Mr Parsa had mental health issues and neighbours reported hearing raised voices coming from the house.

A neighbour discovered the two young children unharmed but dehydrated and hungry at the family's home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles on April 14. Their parents' bodies were discovered in an upstairs bedroom.

“Our little angel was able to keep herself and her brother alive,” Los Angeles Police Captain Maureen Ryan said of the four-year-old.

“The baby is a miracle baby and the little girl is a hero. She's an absolute hero.”

There is no indication that the children witnessed the shooting. However, neighbours who helped rescue the children said the girl remembered hearing a loud noise and her mother crying.

“She heard her mom crying, and then what really was kind of heart-wrenching was when she said she saw 'mommy was broken,’" neighbour Tony Medina told CBS Los Angeles.

At a news conference authorities said the children are in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services and are in good health.