Bentley Brookes in 2011. (Columbian files) Photo

The man found dead Wednesday inside a downtown Vancouver precious metals shop was identified by police Thursday as 58-year-old Camas resident Bentley Brookes, who worked at the business.

Police were dispatched to Pacific Bullion Precious Metals, 701 Main St., at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a man believed to be dead and found Brookes’ body. He died as a result of a gunshot wound, police said Thursday.

Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit are investigating his death as a homicide. They closed streets near the scene for several hours Wednesday as they hunted for clues.

No suspect information was available, nor information about whether officers recovered a weapon. Police said they were pursuing several leads in the case as they seek to find the killer.

Brookes was well known among the people who worked near Pacific Bullion Precious Metals, said Yvonne Mitchell, whose shop, Vantucky Vintage, is across the street. She called his death heartbreaking.