Niles Police say they don't believe Thursday night's deadly home invasion was a random act of violence.

Police say that the robbery in the 1600 block of Hiram Street was planned ahead of time. Sources close to 21 News believe the suspects were likely after a safe inside the home of Arlene and Angelo Frasca Thursday night.

Angelo Frasca called 9-1-1 shortly before 11 p.m., and told the dispatcher that two men broke into their home and held guns to their heads.

Angelo Frasca also told police that the intruders did something to his wife and she was on the floor and to please hurry because they needed help.

Arlene Frasca, 74, died from her injuries. Her husband was taken to a nearby hospital. Still no word yet on his condition.

When Niles Police Detectives arrived on the scene along with members of the state's crime lab they found no visible signs of forced entry, but suspect the couple's front door to the home may have been unlocked.

Captain John Marshall, the Public Information Officer with the Niles Police Department says, "It's a possibility that the victim's knew the suspects.  It's something that we're not considering a random act.  So that likelihood is very possible."

Detectives are not talking about the motive but feel confident that the suspects were familiar with the home in some way.

"I don't think specifically the victims were involved directly in the motive to stage the armed robbery at the house.  They unfortunately are a byproduct of a situation.  They were targeted for a specific reason," Captain Marshall said.

21 News has learned that the murder victim is a long time member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Niles and a past member of Warren Junior Women's League. Frasca would often volunteer throughout the community. Many of her friends and family are in shock and describe her as kind and a woman who loved life.

Neighbors are distraught that such a violent crime happened in their own backyard.  Police want assure the public that this was not a random act.

"There should be no reason or cause for alarm because we don't believe or feel that this was a random act.  We feel that the victims were specifically targeted and should not be a danger to anybody else in the community," Captain Marshall tells 21 News.

Niles police say the intruders appeared to be looking for something specific in the house and knew where it was.  

The Trumbull County Coroner has not yet ruled on what caused the death, but police are investigating the case as a homicide.

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday.

The Niles Police Detective Bureau and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation are handling the case. 

Follow 21 News for the latest developments.