Victoria Police are investigating a murder after a middle-aged man was found dead after shots were fired in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Officers found the victim at about 4 a.m. in an apartment in the 1200-block of Pembroke Street in the North Park area after receiving reports of a man with a gun.
Police say the man was fatally wounded after shots were fired.
A witness who wished to remain anonymous said a man broke into the suite demanding drugs and yelling.
The witness said gunfire was heard shortly after. One shot went through the ceiling of the victim's apartment into the suite above, they added.
Building residents say they saw a man standing in the street carrying what appeared to be a rifle after the incident. He told them to stay where they were before running down the street.
No suspect is in custody, and the dead man's identity has yet to be confirmed.
Police say they do not believe the death was random and are treating it as a homicide.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating in cooperation with the Victoria Police.
This is the city's first homicide of 2010.
Anyone with information about the suspected murder is asked to call the police tip line at 250-995-7444 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
