One person is dead after what police say was a targeted shooting in Vancouver early Sunday morning.

Police say the "brazen daylight shooting" happened near the intersection of West 7th Avenue and Ash Street at about 9:30 a.m. PT in front of several witnesses.

The victim, a man in his 20s, was reportedly walking his dog when he was shot.

The motive for the shooting is unclear as the investigation is in the early stages, but police say it was a targeted shooting and the victim is known to police and has gang ties.

The man's name has not been released, but a neighbour told CBC News the victim lived in a nearby building at 587 West 6th Avenue.

Witnesses say they heard six shots, looked out and saw the victim lying on the street. One witness said a man dressed in black wearing a hooded sweatshirt ran up Ash Street and shot the victim in the torso.

A search for the suspect was launched after the gunman apparently fled on foot. No arrests have been made.

The shooting is the city's 13th homicide of 2011.