Alerted by worried relatives, police found two brothers shot to death in the basement of their family's tobacco shop in Evanston.

Mobeen Hakeem, 34, and Azim Hakeem, 38, were discovered around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Evanston Pipe and Tobacco shop in the 900 block of Davis Street in the north suburb, according to relatives and authorities.

Police said there were no signs of a robbery and they don't believe there is a gunman at large.

“There is nothing to indicate a danger to the community at this time,” Evanston Police Commander Jay Parrott said in an email. “The police department has not developed any information at this point in the investigation to indicate a particular suspect at large.”

More details will be released "when available," Parrott added.

Autopsies are scheduled for Thursday.

The victims' mother, who owns the store, became concerned when her sons did not return from the shop Tuesday evening, according to Zaki Syed and Qudrat Syed, uncles of the men. She had last heard from them around 1:30 p.m., the uncles said.

"My sister tried to reach her kids," Qudrat Syed said. "They were not responding to her phone calls. So on her arrival around 7:30 -- because this is the month of Ramadan, we do fasting — she was worried about why they're not home yet for the fasting."

The mother went to the store and found a padlock on the door and alerted authorities, the Syeds said. Police and firefighters broke into the store and found the brothers in the basement. The Syeds said they were told by police that both brothers had been shot several times.

"My family was in a state of shock, really, losing two boys in the family. People are shocked to know about this tragedy," Qudrat Syed said.

"They were born here, they were raised here. In fact, they grew up here in this store," he added. "They were loving brothers, taking care of their father, taking care of their business. Very beautiful kids."

A statement from the Hakeem family was posted this morning on the door of a home in the 400 block of Custer Avenue:

“My brothers were gentle, humble men who did not deserve anything like this. Both were great brothers, sons, nephews and cousins. We would like the Evanston police to be respectful of our culture and religion and be more transparent with their information. We thank you all for the love and support. Our family will not be taking interviews at this time, so please respectfully honor our wishes.

"Farheen Hakeem, daughter, sister and friend."

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