Man dead after shooting in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

Vancouver police say a man who died of a gunshot wound, sustained at the Savoy Hotel on East Hastings Street, is the city's first homicide of 2017.

Investigators with VPD's Major Crime Section continue to investigate while the victim has been identified as62-year-old Vancouver resident Joseph Billy Bustinski.

Vancouver Police were called to the Savoy Pub and Hotel around 10:30 p.m. Friday, on a report that shots had been fired.

"Officers arrived to find someone had deployed bear spray in the hotel, making it difficult for everyone inside to breathe," said VPD in a release.

The victim was discovered inside the hotel, but despite being treated by police and paramedics, died later in hospital.

Police say that the shooting does not appear to be random, but noarrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.