Two people were found dead inside a Berkeley residence Monday in what police were calling a suspicious circumstance.
Police responded to the 3000 block of Deakin Street in Berkeley and found the two bodies, according to the Berkeley Police Department. The cause of the deaths was not immediately apparent, police said, and the building was evacuated out of an abundance of caution.
Police were alerted to the apartment home when a friend of one of the victims went to check on that person and found them dead. When officers searched the apartment, they found the second body, as well as two dead cats.
"The persons were not in a central location in the unit," Officer Byron White said. "Their cause of death is not immediately apparent."
Officials ruled out carbon monoxide or radiation poisoning after tests came back negative for those elements.
Neighbors were a bit unnerved.
"I think that's scary, I don't know what happened to them," said Christina Hensley.
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"From what we understand, there was no forced entry, no sign of violence," neighbor Herve Pluch said. "Accidents happen. It's unfortunate, but it happens."
The Berkeley Fire Department and PG&E crews also responded to the scene to make sure there were no hazardous conditions.
The investigation is ongoing, and police advised residents that Deakin Street is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between Webster and Prince streets.
Autopsies will be performed on the victims, and officials said those may provide clues as to what happened. The results would take at least a day or two, they said.
