3 People Found Shot Dead in Van Nuys

The bodies of two women and a man -- all shot execution-style -- were found Saturday afternoon in a Van Nuys apartment, Los Angeles police said.

One of the women and the man were found with their hands tied behind their backs in the living room of a first-floor apartment in the 6600 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue, authorities said. The other woman was found naked in the bathroom, police said.

All appeared to be in their 30s.

A white, powdery substance believed to be cocaine was on the heads of the victims in the living room, and clothes and other household items were thrown on top of them, according to police sources.

An unidentified woman told police she went to the apartment, saw a body and called 911. The second body was found by paramedics.

Police arrived about 1:30 p.m., according to Officer Don Cox, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officials said the male victim was last seen about midnight. Neighbors noticed an unusually high number of visitors to the apartment, officials said.

Police did not release the names of the victims.

A three-year resident of the complex described the 71-unit complex as quiet and filled with working families.

“We don’t have any motive or suspects at this time,” Lt. Art Miller said.

Also on Saturday, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were investigating a double homicide in the 7400 block of South Central Avenue, a spokesman said.

The bodies of two men, both fatally shot, were found about 9 p.m.

One man died at the scene; the other was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s spokesman said.