Porter Ranch — A quiet evening turned devastating Monday for a family in Porter Ranch when a son discovered his parents inside their home, both lifeless from gunshot wounds. The tragedy has left neighbors stunned and authorities searching for understanding behind what appears to be a murder‑suicide.
Shortly after 9:20 p.m., police officers responded to a home on Como Lane after a neighbor heard the desperate calls for help. The couple’s adult son had run to a nearby house after finding his mother and father inside their residence. By the time officers and paramedics reached the scene, both parents had been pronounced dead.
The Los Angeles Police Department says both victims, 58‑year‑old Zaven Shahverdi and his 55‑year‑old wife, Melina Avanosian, suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Investigators located a handgun inside the home and believe no one else was involved in the deaths. Detectives have described the case as a domestic murder‑suicide.
Police have not publicly stated who they believe fired the shots, and the official determination of how each died remains under review by the county medical examiner. At this stage, investigators are focusing on piecing together a timeline and motive from evidence at the scene and interviews with family members and neighbors.
Neighbors describe the Shahverdi‑Avanosian household as quiet and private. Some recalled seeing the couple together in the past but said they never appeared to be in conflict. Many in the community expressed shock and sorrow, struggling to reconcile the violence of the incident with the peaceful character of the street.
The couple’s son, who has not been publicly identified, is being supported by family and crisis counselors as he copes with the trauma of his discovery. Friends and relatives have spoken about the loving nature of both parents, emphasizing their roles as devoted partners and caring figures in their community.
Local authorities urge anyone with information about the household’s activities in the days leading up to the incident to come forward. As Porter Ranch residents grapple with the weight of the tragedy, the focus remains on understanding the human story behind a night that altered a family forever.
