(CNS) Posted Saturday August 28, 2010 - 11:57am
Sheriff's detectives today sought whoever fatally shot three Iranian-American men in a West Hollywood apartment.
Pirooz Moussazadeh, 27, his brother, Shahriar Moussazadeh, 38, and Bernard Khalili, 27, were shot about 9:15 p.m. Thursday at Kings Arms apartments in the 600 block of North Kings Road, according to Craig Harvey of the coroner's office.
Pirooz and Shahriar lived together in the apartment, sheriff's deputies said.
Khalili's sister Bianca died in 2008 after she fell from a Century City high-rise, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Beverly Hills High School senior was in a heated argument with another girl over a boy just moments before her death, which was ruled a suicide.
Despite the ruling, rumors of foul play have circulated among Iranian immigrant community, The Times reported.
The three were apparently "targeted by assailants seeking something from one or more of the victims,' law enforcement sources told the newspaper.
Detectives found no sign of forced entry, drugs or weapons in the apartment, The Times reported.
"Our community is shocked by the needless murder of three members of the Iranian Jewish community,' Pooya Dayanim, president of the Iranian Jewish Public Affairs Committee, said.
"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.'
Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Gordon said more than five forensic experts combed the scene all night for evidence.
"Their efforts included crime scene sketches, photographs, latent print searches, firearms experts and testing for biological evidence,' Gordon said.
"Sheriff's homicide detectives are actively investigating the homicides of these three men and are seeking the suspect(s) responsible.'
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.
