The man gunned down in a brazen daylight shooting Sunday morning in Vancouver's Fairview neighbourhood has been identified as 29-year-old local Axel Curtis.
Curtis was shot while walking his dog at the intersection of Ash Street and West 7th Avenue at around 9:30 a.m. by a man clad in black.
Const. Lindsey Houghton confirmed the deceased's identity Monday morning, and said he was known to police and had suspected gang ties. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted.
Curtis has a criminal record including drugs, weapons and fraud convictions, and police sources say he had connections in the notorious UN gang.
Witnesses say at least six shots were fired, and that the gunfire continued as the victim lay on the ground in the fetal position.
No suspects have been identified, but Houghton said Homicide Squad detectives are continuing to interview several shooting witnesses in hopes of developing an accurate suspect description.
There was a heavy police presence at a Port Moody highrise Monday, as investigators waited for a warrant to search a condo owned by Terrance Curtis, the victim's father.
The death marks Vancouver's 13th homicide of 2011.
Anyone with information on the shooting who has not spoken to investigators is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous.
