Why Was Mark Ruffalo's Brother Shot?

Dec. 5, 2008— -- The Beverly Hills police are seeking two people they want to question about the shooting of Scott Ruffalo, brother of actor Mark Ruffalo.

The police identified Brian Scofield and Shaha Mishaal Adham as "persons of interest." Scott Ruffalo, a 39-year-old hairdresser, was shot in the head Monday at his condo and remains in critical condition.

Police say that Scofield is about 25 years old and Adham is 27 and that both live in Los Angeles.

Mark Ruffalo, star of films "13 Going on 30," "Zodiac" and "You Can Count on Me," has been at his brother's bedside since the shooting, according to his publicist Jessica Kolstad.

As Scott Ruffalo clings to life, a portrait of the man emerges.

A well-known and successful hairdresser, Scott Ruffalo has worked at salons in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, including, most recently, the Giuseppe Franco Salon in Beverly Hills.

He has held a license in cosmetology since 1991 and, in 2001, set up his own corporation -- Ruff Inc. -- that takes in his lucrative income as a hairstylist.

"He is well-liked by everybody and knows everyone in Beverly Hills," his accountant James Leger told ABCNews.com. "He was a guy who really wanted to do things right, as far as I was concerned. He is one of the easiest clients I have. He's 100 percent above board and would go overboard to make sure everything is done right."

But Scott Ruffalo did have one encounter with the law. In April 2002, he was convicted of a felony charge for possession of a controlled substance for sale. A second charge, possession of a narcotic controlled substance, was dismissed.

As Beverly Hills police continued their investigation into what happened, Scott Ruffalo's shooting came as a shock to those who know him.

"It's really strange," Leger said. "This is obviously not just a break-in. Robbers don't just routinely go to Beverly Hills in the middle of the night."

Neighbor Yelena Shekhtman told ABCNews.com that the building is "very secure." Even though she lives close by, she said she heard no sounds of gunshots or a scuffle. She only knew something had gone wrong when police knocked on her door at 4 that morning.

That such violence could occur right down the hall has shaken Shekhtman. "It's not safe now, living in Beverly Hills."