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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A suspect allegedly shot and killed a 24-year-old man who was later found inside an apartment unit before firefighters put out a fire Thursday in the Valley Glen neighborhood.
Fire crews were called just before 1 a.m. to 13833 W. Oxnard St. west of Woodman Avenue where they found heavy flames coming from a first floor unit of a 23,523-square-foot, 24-unit, two-story apartment building, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
It took 28 firefighters 22 minutes to extinguish the flames and during a search of the building they discovered the victim's remains, said Humphrey.
Los Angeles Police Department Det. Steve Castro told Fox 11 neighbors heard several shots fired at the location and at least one masked suspect was seen at the apartment where the victim was found and fired several shots at the unit before running away from the scene.
"It's too soon to tell but there is a good possibility that [the victim] was targeted," Castro said.
Castro added that police believe the fire was started to cover up the shooting.
Fox 11 also reported the victim's brother was inside the apartment and jumped to safety. He later called police from a nearby 7-Eleven
The bodies of two dogs were also recovered from the apartment.
The age of the victim was not immediately known.
No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation by LAFD and LAPD investigators.