The discovery of a human skull during an Easter egg hunt near Los Angeles has prompted authorities to launch an investigation.

At about 5pm on Sunday a family discovered the human remains during an egg hunt at DeForest Park in Long Beach, California, according to local reports.

Long Beach police confirmed the discovery to the Guardian, telling the outlet in a statement on Tuesday that the Los Angeles county medical examiner’s office responded to the scene and that “the remains have been confirmed as human”.

It added that the medical examiner’s office would lead the investigation.

In its own statement on Tuesday, the medical examiner’s office also confirmed the human remains, saying the agency had recovered “a skeletonized human skull and mandible” and that it was investigating the remains.

The office said it had labeled the skull “Unidentified Doe #196” and had brought the remains to the agency’s forensic science center for further investigation.

Local residents expressed shock at the grim discovery, which occurred during a traditional children’s activity. Fernando Guzman told ABC7: “I’m sorry for whoever’s kids that even saw that, you know? It sounds pretty bad.”

Meanwhile, resident Gabriel Rivas said to the outlet: “My girlfriend and I walk past here all the time and run. We feel it’s a safe trail so … [it’s] surprising. I’m going to have to think twice.”

Sunday’s discovery follows a recent announcement by California’s Sonoma county sheriff’s department, confirming that human remains discovered on a beach in 2022 belonged to a missing banker last seen in 1999.