A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found fatally shot and two dogs were also dead inside a Valley Glen apartment that caught fire overnight.
Police received a report of shots fired around 1 a.m. Thursday in the 13800 block of Oxnard Street, the Los Angeles Police Department stated in a news release.
When officers arrived, they found the two-story, 24-unit apartment building engulfed in flames.
The blaze took firefighters only about 20 minutes to douse, but once inside the apartment they found a man and two dogs dead, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated in a news alert.
The victim was described by police as a 20- to 25-year-old man with gunshot wounds.
No other injuries were reported and the exact cause of the fire was under investigation.
A lead detective at the scene told KTLA that four men entered the apartment by kicking down the front door. At least one of them shot the victim with a shotgun and set the apartment on fire.
The dogs possibly died from smoke inhalation, officials said.
Investigators believe the victims could have been targeted, but did not release a possible motive.
The victim lived with his brother, who was also home at the time. The brother was able to escape through a back window to try and get help.
A resident who lives in the building said he heard the gunshots before the fire broke out.
“I heard two gunshots, which I thought were explosions,” resident James Howard said.
Police were going door-to-door to speak to potential witnesses as they investigated the incident.
Anyone with information was asked to call the police department at 818-374-1925. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
