'Just beautiful little kids': Woman, three children found dead at Tullamarine home

Homicide police were investigating the incident and senior police on Thursday evening said it was too soon to speculate about what had occurred inside the Burgess Street home.

When asked by reporters if Mr Perinovic was a suspect, they declined to describe him as such. They would not rule out the possibility that murder-suicide was being investigated as a possible cause of the deaths.

"He is a person of interest and assisting police with their inquiries, Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill said. “But we should not draw any conclusions at this point in time. If I was to do so, it would be grossly unfair."

Mr Hill would not comment on the nature of the injuries to the deceased.

Neighbours said Ms Perinovic (nee Blazevic), who worked as a physiotherapist in nearby Glenroy, had grown up in Tullamarine, and had close family living nearby.

They said she would often take her daughters, Anna and Claire, and their little brother, Matthew, to the park near home, where the children would play.

Tara Jenkins, who lives around the corner in Fisher Court, said she would often see the mother take her children at a nearby park, where they would play with her six-year-old son.

"I'm absolutely gutted," Ms Jenkins said. "It’s devastating.

"Those kids were so young, just beautiful little kids.

"[She] was ... a very loving mother. We would often say hello to each other as our kids played. She was always really cheerful and kind ... just a lovely woman."

Friend and neighbour Marie Groves said she had known the family for more than three years and with two daughters going to school with Katie’s three children.

“I'm still trying to process what has happened,” she said. “Katie was a very loving and doting mother. The situation is incomprehensible to me.

"We always caught up for play dates... she was over here or we went over to their place. Our daughters did dances classes together. Katie did everything for those children. She was very protective of them and always wanted what was best for them.”

"Victoria Police does not seek any other person. It's very important we do not speculate.

"It is a tragic event to lose life ... but when it involves three children, the second event that occurs this week where we saw the loss of children in horrific circumstances, it does impact on the community of Victoria," Mr Hill said.

Northwest Metro Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Galliott said there were many questions yet to be answered.

"Police will be there in the community, processing the scene throughout the night, so we get these answers," he said.

Mr Galliott said the man assisting police was the person who had alerted emergency services around 12.30pm, and had since spoken to police and provided an account of what happened.

"We don't know the exact details of how this transpired. There are many scenarios we need to explore. I need to make it clear ... we should not assume culpability on the basis [that] we have a male assisting us with our inquiries. We need to understand the facts."

Dozens of police officers and several ambulances attended Burgess Street after the alarm was raised early on Thursday afternoon.

Just before 4pm a woman was led past the police tape and into a property by officers. The woman had pulled up to the street minutes earlier, before talking with police. She became distressed and was comforted by officers before escorted into the street by detectives.

Neighbour Tara Jenkins, who lives around the corner in Fisher Court, said she and her six-year-old son would often see the woman who lived in the home at a nearby park with her three children.

"I'm absolutely gutted," Ms Jenkins said. "It’s devastating.

"Those kids were so young, just beautiful little kids.

"[Their mother] was always alone with them and was a very loving mother. We would often say hello to each other as our kids played. She was always really cheerful and kind ... just a lovely woman."

A distressed next-door neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that he had gone outside mid-afternoon to see what was happening, and police told him to stay inside.

"It's very shocking, believe me," he told The Age.

He said the people who lived in the home were "nice and friendly and polite".

"[They are] very quiet," he said.

Homicide detectives will examine the scene for most of the night.

"Police will be there in the community, processing the scene throughout the night, so we get these answers," he said.

Mr Galliott said the man assisting police was the person had alerted emergency services around 12.30pm, and had since spoken to police and provided an account of what happened.

"We don't know the exact details of how this transpired. There are many scenarios we need to explore. I need to make it clear ... we should not assume culpability on the basis [that] we have a male assisting us with our inquiries. We need to understand the facts."

Dozens of police officers and several ambulances are at Burgess Street, which has been closed to traffic. A crime scene has been established at the property.

A woman was led past the police tape and into a property by officers just before 4pm. The woman had pulled up to the street minutes earlier, before talking with police. She became distressed and was comforted by officers before escorted into the street by detectives.

Neighbour Tara Jenkins, who lives around the corner in Fisher Court, said she and her six-year-old son would often see the woman who lived in the home at a nearby park with her three children.

"I'm absolutely gutted," Ms Jenkins said. "It’s devastating.

"Those kids were so young, just beautiful little kids.

"[Their mother] was always alone with them and was a very loving mother. We would often say hello to each other as our kids played. She was always really cheerful and kind ... just a lovely woman."

A distressed next-door neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that he had gone outside mid-afternoon to see what was happening, and police told him to stay inside.

"It's very shocking, believe me," he told The Age.

He said the people who lived in the home were "nice and friendly and polite".

"[They are] very quiet," he said.

If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline 131 114, Beyond Blue 1300 224 636, or Kidshelpline 1800 55 1800.