The man gunned down in front of more than a dozen witnesses at the Wall Centre in downtown Vancouver Tuesday night was a gangster formerly associated with one of B.C.'s notorious Bacon brothers, according to reports.
The deceased, whom media outlets are naming as Sandip Duhre, was gunned down at a window table at the Bar One restaurant located inside the posh hotel complex at around 8:45 p.m.
Vancouver police Const. Lindsey Houghton said the violent public attack demonstrates "a complete disregard for public safety."
"These are incidents that put the public, the innocent public, at complete risk for their lives," Houghton said. "We, along with everyone else, find this completely unacceptable."
Authorities have not confirmed the victim's identity, but say he was in his mid-20s. He was dead by the time officers arrived at the scene.
His shooting marks Vancouver's first homicide of 2012.
Investigators worked overnight interviewing witnesses and gathering information about what led to the attack, but few details have been confirmed. Police have not released the number of shots fired, but say the victim was struck multiple times.
No suspect information has been released. The U.S. women's soccer team was in the hotel at the time of the shooting, but players say they were not affected.
The shooting occurred roughly one month after a masked gunman opened fire in a nearby Tim Hortons on Davie Street, apparently targeting a 30-year-old man who was hit several times while trying to flee. No arrests have been announced in that case.
Anyone with information can contact police at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous.
