TROY — A property manager discovered four slain people Tuesday afternoon inside a basement apartment at 158 Second Ave., city officials said.

Troy Police Capt. Daniel DeWolf said authorities received a call reporting several people appeared to be unconscious in the Troy apartment building at about 12:50 p.m.

DeWolf would not divulge information about the identities or ages of the victims. Police are treating the deaths as homicides.

"It's certainly suspicious," DeWolf said. He didn't know how long the bodies had been there before being found, and he wouldn't say if any weapons were found at the scene.

"Unfortunately, it's horrible, terrible, sad ... especially at this time of year," he said.

The deaths happened in the city's Lansingburgh neighborhood, which runs along the Hudson River overlooking the housing developments that have risen in Cohoes. Residents said the neighborhood is mostly quiet.

Shakeria Jones, who lives around the corner, believes the victim could be her friend.

"She lives in the basement apartment," said Jones. "I've been calling her all day. She always answers but she hasn't. I'm worried it's her. I hope it's not her."

Jones also said that her friend didn't have issues with anyone.

"If it is her, I don't know who could have done it," she said.

Another neighbor said the basement apartment was most recently home to a woman, her two children, ages 8 and 11, and her partner. They said they were praying that the family was unharmed.

Jason Fenton, who has lived across the street from 158 Second Ave. for 18 years, said that the building has four or five apartments. While he doesn't know the residents, he knows several children lived there. He also said there were a lot of parties going on there this past summer.

"They seem to like to have fun," Fenton said. But Tuesday's discovery has him scared.

"It's horrible," he said. "I hope they find the person."

Another resident who lives in an apartment building across the street and declined to be identified, said police arrived without sirens on Tuesday. Officers used police tape to cordon off the area around 158 Second Ave. and closed the street in both directions from 102nd to 103rd street.

State Police sent criminal investigators, evidence technicians and computer crime specialists to help city police. Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove also was at the scene. No arrests have been made.

More information was not available as investigators continued to comb the scene Tuesday evening. Police have reached out to family members of the victims, DeWolf said.

"Things are unfolding right now," State Police Lt. Rob Appleton of Troop G Bureau of Criminal Investigation said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Troy police.