Isidro Zavala murder-suicide, community responds to crime that left two young boys dead

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- Candles flickered into the night outside the quiet Boynton Beach home of where police said a father killed two of his young sons before killing himself.

The community surrounding the home stood shocked on Sunday. They still cannot understand what would lead their neighbor, Isidro Zavala, to strangle his sons Marco Zavala, 11, and Eduardo Zavala, 12.

"You try not to get emotional. But when you've known these people, it's really, it's heart breaking," said Jack McVey of the East Boynton Beach Little League.

McVey fought back the tears as you stood outside the Zavala home. He was with both the Zavala boys and their father on the field all of the time. 

"The kids were always running around. They always had a great time. And that's what hurts the most," said McVey.

It is the pain of knowing both Marco and Eduardo were robbed of their childhood and their future said McVey. He said what was even more puzzling is who police said is responsible.

"I couldn't' believe that a man that I've known would actually do something like that. You know, take his children's lives," said McVey. 

Isidro was always at practice according to McVey and would even landscape for the league.

McVey said as practices begin, he is at a loss for how we will explain what happened to their former teammates.

"You don't know what's going to be inside a 10 or 11-year-olds head. Hopefully they'll know that they have friends right down the road that they can count and that will be there for them," said McVey.

A crisis team and grief counselors will be at each of the schools the Zavala boys attended.

The family told WPTV NewsChannel 5 they have not set a date for funerals.