Police: 4 bodies found with gunshot wounds at West Des Moines home

Four people who were found dead in a West Des Moines home Saturday had suffered gunshot wounds, police said.

Lavanya Sunkara, 44, Chandrasekhar Sunkara, 41, a 15-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release. All four lived at the home. Autopsies will be performed to determine the official cause of death. 

Police said other family members — two adults and two children — were staying as guests. After discovering the victims, "one of the survivors" fled the house looking for help, police said. The survivor reportedly found someone walking through the neighborhood, who then called 911. 

“This tragedy will impact family, friends, co-workers, anyone that knew this family,” West Des Moines police Sgt. Dan Wade said in the release. “We are continuing to work through this investigation. We will follow through until we have answered as many questions as the evidence allows. We are confident, though, that there is no continuing threat to the community.”

According to Wade, a call was received around 10 a.m. for an "unknown problem" that resulted in authorities being dispatched to a residence at 935 65th St., between Ashworth Road and Aspen Drive.

Real estate records show the home had been owned by Lavanya and Chandrasekhar Sunkara since March 25.

Most of the street was blocked off by officers Saturday, and the house was roped off with yellow crime scene tape. Five West Des Moines police cars and a large Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation truck were at the scene much of the day.

The house is in a neighborhood with well-kept suburban homes. The street was quiet outside of police activity on Saturday afternoon. Few neighbors were visible outdoors.

DCI Special Agent in Charge Adam DeCamp said the agency was called in for its crime scene team and laboratory, but West Des Moines police were leading the investigation.