Los Angeles, Dec 1 (IANS): A man was charged with killing his four children and mother-in-law over the weekend inside a home in the western US state of California, authorities said.

Germarcus Lamar David, 29, faces five counts of murder and three counts of assault on a child causing death, said the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in a news release on Tuesday.

David is accused of fatally shooting the five victims aged 11, 7, 2, 1 and 51 at the family home on the 3,500 block of Garnet Lane in Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County, according to the news release.

"No family should endure this type of tragedy, especially when the alleged perpetrator was responsible for their protection," Xinhua news agency quoted the county's District Attorney George Gascon saying.

"Our office has reached out to the family to ensure they have all the services and support they need during this difficult time," Gascon added.

The incident was reported Sunday evening. David is being held in lieu of a 2-million-US-dollar bail and expected to appear in a court Tuesday.