Five men were found dead Wednesday evening at an Inverness apartment complex.

Police discovered the bodies around 6 p.m. at Cahaba Lakes Apartments, behind Home Depot off U.S. 280.

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry wouldn’t say how the men died, but other sources say their throats had been slashed.

The men have not been identified. Curry said investigators are trying to determine when the men died and how they are related.

The sheriff’s office received a call around 5 p.m. from someone who had been trying to reach a friend at Cahaba Lakes.

When deputies arrived, no one answered the door. Officers also had trouble getting into the locked apartment after a key provided by the complex didn’t work.

After officers did get in, they found the men dead on the living room floor.

“Something of this magnitude is horrific,” said Curry. “Any agency that has to deal with this many deaths … it’s difficult.”

Numerous agencies, including the sheriff’s office, Alabama State Troopers, U.S. Marshals and the FBI are on the scene. Hoover and Pelham police departments are there too and are helping answer other sheriff’s office calls Wednesday night.

Forensic experts and coroners are both on the scene, which will be worked throughout the night.

Until the investigation is complete, access to Buckhorn Cove will be restricted, Curry said. Only residents are being allowed into the apartments.

“We don’t want to leave a stone unturned,” Curry said.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Science will perform autopsies later this week.

Curry said more information would be released Thursday morning.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 669-4181 or report information online at www.shelbyso.com by clicking the “Report Criminal Activity” link.