New York based indie group The Yellow Dogs have thanked fans for their support after two members of the group were killed in a murder-suicide.

Police have confirmed that musician Ali Akbar Mahammadi Rafie shot and killed drummer Arash Farazmand and guitarist Soroush Farazmand in a Brooklyn building on Monday morning (November 11).

He also murdered another musician, Ali Eskandarian, with the gunman then killing himself on a rooftop. Another person in the building was shot but is recovering in hospital.

The Yellow Dogs posted on their Facebook page: "From Koory and Obash: Thanks every one for all your prayers and condolences. We're still can't believe this tragedy . R.I.P Arash Farazmand, Soroush Farazmand and ali eskandarian."

The other two members of The Yellow Dogs were not present in the building at the time of the tragedy.

It was originally reported that Ali Akbar Mahammadi Rafie may have been angered after being sacked from the band last year. However, The Yellow Dogs' manager told Pitchfork:

"The shooter was not a former member of the band The Yellow Dogs, he was in another band from Iran and the two groups were acquaintances in the past. A personal conflict between the guys resulted in the dissolution of their relationship in 2012."

The rifle used in the shooting had been bought in 2006 and police are tracking its history. It has been said that it may have been carried in a guitar case to the building.

The Yellow Dogs originally formed in their native Iran before moving camp to Brooklyn in 2010. They have played at the SXSW festival and were featured in the documentary No One Knows About Persian Cats.

Their Twitter bio says that they are a "Post Punk/Dance Punk band from Tehran/Iran, living in Brooklyn at the moment."