A man is dead after being shot in the early hours of New Year's Day in Winnipeg.

Police were called around 6 a.m. on Jan. 1 to a home on Nairn Avenue, near Allan Street, in the city's Elmwood neighbourhood.

"It's six o'clock in the morning on a frigid day, someone's been shot and killed, a family's traumatized. It's another tragedy in the city … [but] the date is arbitrary," said Const. Rob Carver, responding to a reporter's comment about how unfortunate it is police are dealing with a homicide only a few hours into 2019.

Tara Pfaff woke up to see police cruisers outside her grandmother's home on Nairn Avenue where she was staying for the holidays. (CBC)

Police have not released the man's name.

Tara Pfaff now lives in B.C. but grew up in the Winnipeg neighbourhood until she was 13.

She was visiting her grandmother in the area for the holidays and woke up New Year's Day to see police cruisers in the neighbourhood.

"Nobody really wants to wake up on New Year's Day and see police tape across their back alley, but it definitely wasn't a surprise," said Pfaff.

Police block off a backlane as they investigate the homicide. (John Einarson/CBC)

She said the area has become associated with crime and substance abuse in recent years.

"There has been quite an increase in crime, lots of, as they say, shady characters moving in and around the area," said Pfaff.

Last year, the city recorded 22 homicides, including the last on Christmas Day.