LOS ANGELES — In a tragedy that has plunged Hollywood into a state of shock and mourning, legendary director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday. Multiple sources have confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple was murdered, and in a devastating turn of events, law enforcement officials have taken their eldest son, Nick Reiner, into custody as the sole suspect in the double homicide.

The incident, which unfolded in the quiet, upscale neighborhood of Brentwood, marks a gruesome end to the life of one of the entertainment industry’s most beloved figures and his longtime partner.

A Grim Discovery

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers responded to a 911 call requesting a welfare check at the Reiner estate shortly after 10:00 a.m. The call was reportedly placed by a housekeeper who arrived for work and discovered signs of a struggle. Upon entering the residence, officers found the bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 69, in the living area of the home. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

While police have not released specific details regarding the cause of death pending an official autopsy by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, sources close to the investigation describe the scene as “chaotic and violent.”

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” a law enforcement source told PEOPLE. “The investigation is in its preliminary stages, but we are treating this as a domestic homicide.”

Nick Reiner, 32, was reportedly apprehended by police a few miles from the family home shortly after the discovery of the bodies. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held for questioning. Authorities have not yet formally charged him, but sources confirm he is the primary person of interest.

A Troubled Family Dynamic

The arrest of Nick Reiner has cast a spotlight on the complex and often difficult relationship between the famous director and his son. Nick’s struggles with substance abuse have been a matter of public record for years. In a bitter irony, the father and son had previously attempted to exorcise these demons through art.

They collaborated on the 2015 film Being Charlie, a drama directed by Rob and co-written by Nick, which was loosely based on Nick’s own battles with drug addiction and his multiple stints in rehab during his teenage years. At the time of the film’s release, Rob Reiner spoke openly about the pain of watching his son suffer, describing it as the “hardest thing a parent can go through.”

“We made that movie to heal,” a family friend told PEOPLE, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Rob loved Nick ferociously. He never gave up on him, even when things were at their worst. For it to end like this… it’s beyond comprehension. It’s Shakespearean in its tragedy.”

Sources indicate that Nick had recently relapsed after a period of sobriety, leading to increased tensions within the family. Neighbors reported hearing shouting coming from the property late Saturday night, though no calls were made to the police at that time.

A Titan of Hollywood

Rob Reiner’s death marks the end of an era for American cinema and television. The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob first rose to prominence as the “Meathead” Mike Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards. However, it was his transition behind the camera that cemented his status as a Hollywood icon.

Reiner possessed a rare versatility, directing a string of critical and commercial hits that defined the 1980s and 90s. His filmography reads like a list of modern classics: the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, the coming-of-age masterpiece Stand by Me, the fantasy-adventure The Princess Bride, the rom-com gold standard When Harry Met Sally…, and the courtroom drama A Few Good Men.

“Rob had a heart as big as his talent,” said a statement released by his production company, Castle Rock Entertainment. “He was a storyteller who believed in the human spirit. The world has lost a giant.”

Michele Singer Reiner, his wife of over 35 years, was a celebrated photographer and environmental activist. The couple met on the set of Harry Met Sally… and married in 1989. Friends described them as inseparable, a rarity in the fickle world of Hollywood marriages. They raised three children together: Jake, Nick, and Romy.

An Industry in Mourning

As news of the deaths spread, tributes began pouring in from across the entertainment and political spectrum. Reiner was not only a filmmaker but a fierce political activist, known for his advocacy for early childhood education and environmental causes.

“I am shattered,” wrote a longtime collaborator on social media. “Rob and Michele were the warmest, most generous people I knew. To lose them both, and in this way, is a nightmare from which we cannot wake up.”

Flowers have already begun to pile up on Reiner’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as fans gather to pay their respects.

The Investigation Continues

As the sun sets on a dark day in Los Angeles, the investigation continues. The LAPD is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow morning to provide further details regarding the timeline of events and formal charges against Nick Reiner.

For now, a family is destroyed, and the world is left to mourn the sudden, violent loss of a couple who brought so much laughter and light to the screen. The question of “why”—what could drive a son to such an act—remains the haunting center of this horrific story.

This story is developing…