Halifax Regional Police are investigating the sudden death of a woman and the discovery of a man with life-threatening injuries in a Dartmouth neighbourhood.

A large area of Hastings Drive off Prince Arthur Avenue has been cordoned off and residents are being advised to remain where they are after the disturbance, which was reported to police as an assault in progress around 7:42 p.m.

Heavily armed officers have flooded the area, seemingly scouring the area for someone. A K-9 unit is also on the scene and homicide investigators have been called to assist.

Police say the woman was found unresponsive inside a building and pronounced dead by paramedics. The injured man was found outside a building and has been taken to Dartmouth General Hospital.

The incident is not believed to be random, say police.

Witness heard 'scuffle'

A resident of a building on Hastings Drive told CBC News he heard a "scuffle" Friday evening in another apartment and went to alert the building superintendent.

As he did so, he encountered two men in the stairwell dragging a duffel bag that appeared to have blood on it. The men ran out of the building when they saw him, the resident said.

Police have not returned calls for further comment.

Officers on the scene say it will be hours before residents who were not in their homes when police arrived are allowed to return and the area is reopened.