Yes, kill them immediately (being careful to only touch them with our weapons!). Then while we're here we may as well search for secret doors, and for secret compartments in the statue as well. Hopefully the statue won't summon more while we're hanging around! The only thing you find of interest mi...
The door opens on a 30' square room. In the middle of the room is a large statue of a rooster with bat-like wings. Three much smaller birds, about a foot long not counting their tail feathers or beak, are ritually pecking at its feet. They stop when the hear the door open