Chris MacDonald said his 32-year-old brother was killed after three masked men broke into his father's house on Tuesday morning. (CBC)

A 32-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning in Shediac after a struggle with three masked men in his home, according to a family member.

Chris MacDonald told CBC News his younger brother, Laine, was at home with their father, Ron, when three masked men broke into their house at about 3 a.m. and a struggle ensued.

MacDonald, who lives next door in the southeastern New Brunswick community, said a shot was fired and his brother died in the fight.

"Three people went in [the house], and two of them had guns, we think," MacDonald said. "And my brother didn't make it out. There was a little struggle, and that's all we know.

"My father tried to help as much as he could till he got the gun in his head."

Neighbour Florence Martin said she heard noise that she couldn't identify at about 3 a.m. and was interviewed by police about two hours later.

RCMP Sgt. Claude Tremblay called the slaying an isolated event and said the people of Shediac should not be concerned about crime spreading through the community.

Tremblay told reporters that police are now looking for suspects and a possible motive in the crime.

The RCMP are looking for at least the three men who forced their way into the residence and fled the scene in a silver or grey vehicle.

Second slaying in 2009 in Shediac area

The fatality comes about two months after a slaying in Pointe-de-Chene, near Shediac.

Natalie Lirette said she doesn't live too far from where the slaying took place. After hearing about it, Lirette said she fears for her child's safety.

"It's pretty scary, knowing that I have a child. I don't know what Shediac is getting to," Lirette said.

"Everyone knows each other in this community, so you never, never in a million years think that it could come down to this."

Meanwhile, the Codiac Regional RCMP are investigating an early-morning assault that involved firearms in Moncton, about 25 kilometres southwest of Shediac.

Codiac RCMP were called at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to a home on Humphrey Street where suspects had reportedly entered a house with guns and confronted two men.

A fight erupted and shots were fired. The RCMP said both men, aged 19 and 22, were severely beaten and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.