3 Shooting Victims May Have Been Robbery Targets

Sheriff's investigators are still searching for whoever fatally shot three Iranian-American men in a West Hollywood aparment. 

The three men found shot to death Thursday night have been identified as Pirooz Moussazadeh, 27; his brother, Shahriar Moussazadeh, 38; and Bernard Khalili, 27, according to the L.A. County Coroner's Office.

Deputies say the two brothers lived in the apartment.

Investigators have ruled out a murder-suicide. The motive for the slayings is under investigation. The homicides do not appear to be random, according to investigators. The men may have been the targets of a robbery, according to a local wire report.

Law enforcement officials told the Los Angeles Times that they are looking into the possibility that the victims ''were targeted by assailants seeking something from one or more of the victims.''

''Our community is shocked by the needless murder of three members of the Iranian Jewish community,'' said Pooya Dayanim, president of the Iranian Jewish Public Affairs Committee.

''I urge the Los Angeles Police Department, the coroner's office, the FBI and all other law enforcement agencies to use all tools at their disposal to fully investigate this tragedy and apprehend the perpetrator(s) of this triple murder,'' said Dayanim.

At 9:18 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station arrived at an apartment building at 612 N. Kings Road, in response to a 911 call regarding a "person down."

When they entered the apartment, deputies found three adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

A resident in the apartment building had complained about a noise coming from a room located on the second floor of the apartment complex. When the building manager went upstairs, he found the door ajar and smelled a firecracker scent, according to a resident of the building who asked not to be identified.

No suspects are in custody and no suspect information is available.  

More than five forensic experts with the Sheriff's Scientific Services Bureau combed the scene for evidence. Their efforts included crime scene sketches, photographs, latent print searches, testing for biological evidence and firearms experts.

Anyone with information about the slayings is being asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Dayanim also urged members of the Iranian Jewish community to contact authorities with any information they had on the case.

''Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and we all mourn this tragedy,'' Dayanim said.

Information can be relayed anonymously via  Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website.