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Streets were closed around Melrose and Kings Rd much of the night after three people, all adult males, were found dead of gunshot wounds.

LA Weekly reports that the victims were Pirooz Moussazadeh, 27; his brother, Shahriar Moussazadeh, 38; and Bernard Khalili, 27.  The men were members of the Iranian-Jewish community, according to a statement in a report from CNS.

Deputies responded around 9:15pm to 612 North Kings Rd on a report of a person screaming and a need for medical assistance at an apartment.  That person appears to have been the apartment building’s manager, who was investigating a report of possible firecrackers and then found an open door and observed one victim on the ground.

Fire and rescue personnel were immediately dispatched at the time of the call to the Sheriff. Kirk Hawkins from CBS2/KCAL told us that according to detectives there were no signs of a struggle and no report of loud noises or a fight before the shooting.

Some reports have talked about gunshots being reported in the initial call to the Sheriff, but our info does not reflect that.  The call was initially dispatched as a “person screaming” and “medical assistance” incident, and deputies had entered the apartment and located the victims within minutes of that dispatch.

Three victims were found on the ground when deputies arrived and entered the apartment.  Medical attention was sent in shortly after, once the location was deemed safe for their entry. Speaking to reporters at the crime scene, the Los Angeles Times reports that Sgt. Bill Marsh said the victims were found in various parts of one apartment and there was no sign of forced entry or a struggle.

Robert Kovacik from NBC LA told us that he had information about the victims being found face down, however we have not yet heard any info confirming that from the Sheriff.

Sheriff Activity on Kings Road near Melrose (photo Jocelyn Claire for Weho Daily)

The Los Angeles Times reports that the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

A report of gunfire would likely have resulted in a much more cautious approach to entering the apartment.  Nearby neighbors have talked to media about hearing shots but it appears they may not have been immediately reported them to the Sheriff.

One nearby neighbor, Tatiana Itskovich, told ABC7 that there was about 15 to 20 minutes between the time she heard the shots and when deputies arrived on the scene.  She said that she “heard five pops that sounded like gunshots. That was it. I came outside a few minutes later and there was nothing.”

The Los Angeles Times quotes another neighbor living next door to the crime scene as saying that he came home to a distraught wife who said that she heard apparent gunshots, and then deputies arrived and swarmed the location shortly afterward.

The Associated Press reported on Friday afternoon that Sheriff’s Detective Bill Marsh said that residents of the building heard what they thought were firecrackers going off. They called the apartment manager, who found the door open and a body inside. Deputies soon arrived and found two more bodies.

612 North Kings Road

The streets were closed for much of the night to preserve the crime scene and as the Sheriff continued the investigation.  A command post was established near the scene.

Nobody was being allowed into or out of the building, even for residents who wished to leave for the night to stay with other people (updated at 1:45am).

The coroner was on the scene as of about 5:30am, said Kirk Hawkins of CBS2KCAL.

Family members of the victims were being directed or taken to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station where they were being interviewed and they had grief counselors on hand.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the victims were Middle Eastern, according to the lead investigator for the Sheriff’s department. Information may have been previously released saying they were of Russian heritage. Kirk Hawkins for CBS2KCAL says that the victims were in their 20′s to 30′s in age, according to the coroner.