Watch exclusive video of officers discovering a handgun in the bushes near the edge of the property in the Eyewitness News Story Window at the top of this page.
Investigators say it all started about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday when the Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from the female victim reporting that her home was being burglarized.
"And while the deputies were talking to her on the phone they heard several gunshots followed by silence, and then there was an open line," said Lt. Dan Rosenberg of the L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
At least a dozen Sheriff's deputy cars raced to the scene, but the victim was found dead when they arrived.
The victim has been identified as 45-year-old Hsiao Hsu.
Deputies, with their guns drawn, searched the surrounding area for the suspects and to see if they could find any evidence. Dogs were also brought in to help track down the suspects. During the search, nearby South Hills High School was placed on lockdown.
Witnesses say they saw one, possibly two, suspects running from the house.
Sheriff's investigators found a handgun in a heavily wooded area about a block away from the crime scene. So far, they aren't commenting on the evidence gathered.
Nearby resident Rose Gonzalez said she's nervous and scared now.
"I'm a stay at home mom, so when I got here, I didn't know what was going on. I heard the helicopters and then my daugher later on calls me and texts me that they're on lock down, and I mean, I'm just afraid," she said.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
