Ottawa police are investigating the city's fifth homicide of the year after 24-year-old Malik Adjokatcher was fatally shot outside of a home west of Britannia Park.

Police said they were called to a house in the 100-block of Ritchie Street just before midnight. Neighbours said they heard three shots fired.

Adjokatcher was shot in the chest, police sources told CBC News.

The shooting happened outside and the victim fled into a nearby home, where he died despite the efforts of a responding officer to resuscitate him using CPR, sources said.

He was known to police and was involved in gang activity, sources said.

Adjokatcher pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in 2009 and was sentenced to more than two years in jail after a stabbing in 2008. He had originally been charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

He was also convicted of drug and breach of probation charges in 2008. Last year he was acquitted of a weapons charge.

Neighbour wants cameras in the area

Terry Klovin said he's lived on Ritchie Street for 30 years.

"After 9 (p.m.), one has to be fairly careful along here," he said. "These characters, every other night they come out of the woodwork."

Shane Whelan, whose father lives next door to the home, said the street has problems with drugs and violence.

Whelan said he was once attacked for refusing to hand over cigarettes.

"They started rushing me, grabbed me, smacked me over the head with a golf club," he said. "My girlfriend said that they stopped because they thought I was dead."

His father Matthew Whelan said he's scared for his own life after seeing his son almost lose his.

"I think they should put up a couple of cameras," he said, referring to the fact there are none in the housing complex.

"Even if people think it's an invasion of privacy, it's not … the neighbourhood's getting a bad name."

Investigating links to 2012 shooting

Ottawa police said they're looking into possible links between Adjokatcher's death and the drive-by shooting which killed Levy Kasende in August 2012.

Kasende was inside his ex-girlfriend's house in east Ottawa when he got a phone call, stepped outside and was shot dead.

Sources tell CBC News that Kasende and Adjokatcher ran in the same social circles.

Police said they're still looking for the gun and hoping to find witnesses who are willing to talk.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the major crime unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493, or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) — toll free at 1-800-222-8477.