Police have identified a 26-year-old Toronto man shot to death on Friday night in Toronto's west end as Nnamdi Ogba.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area of Scarlett Road, south of Lawrence Avenue West, at about 11:10 p.m., according to Det. Paul Worden, an investigator with Toronto police's homicide unit.

Worden said Ogba exited a building on Waterton Road after visiting friends there and he was walking southbound on Scarlettwood Court when he was approached from behind by two men.

"They followed the victim up Scarlettwood Court, and as he got close to his vehicle, which was parked on the street, both suspects fired a series of shots at him," Worden said on Saturday.

"The victim collapsed on the street."

Ogba was shot in the back.

Homicide Det. Paul Worden said that no possible motive for the fatal shooting has been established. (CBC)

Officers who first arrived on the scene located him without vital signs, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Several shell casings were found nearby, Worden said.

Ogba had no previous contact with police.

It was Toronto's 12th homicide of 2018.

Incident began as 'random encounter'

Police said two men were seen fleeing the area, running northbound on Scarlettwood Court.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the shooting was targeted or random.

"It does appear that they deliberately followed the victim in this case, but based on video surveillance that we have so far, there is no indication that they were waiting for him to come out," Worden said.

The gunmen arrived at the scene around the same time that Ogba left the building and it looks like it was a "random encounter," but the pair did "definitely trail" Ogba as he was walking away.

Toronto police taped off part a street after Ogba, 26, was shot to death while walking to his vehicle after visiting friends. (Tony Smyth/CBC)

"It appears that they did target this male, but we've not determined for what purpose yet," he said. "From the video we have right now, we can see them following the victim and muzzle flashes of gunfire."

Worden said there's no obvious motive for the shooting at this time.

Video footage may be released

Both suspects are described as black men with thin builds.

The first suspect was wearing a grey pullover with a hood, with a black jacket over the hoodie, with black pants and white and black running shoes. He was seen carrying a handgun as he left the area.

The second suspect was wearing a light coloured baseball cap, a black jacket with red stripes down both arms, black pants and black shoes.

Officers are canvassing the area for evidence and are gathering statements from eyewitnesses. Worden noted the area has a history of some gang violence.

Investigators may release video footage later on Saturday.

Police said they would like to hear from anyone who heard gunshots, saw people running at that time in the area, or had dashboard cameras operating from parked cars on Scarlettwood Court.