1 dead, suspect at large after shooting in Maple Ridge, B.C.

Gunshots drew a significant police response to the Metro Vancouver suburb of Maple Ridge early Friday evening.

One person is dead and a suspect is at large after a shooting that drew a large police presence to Maple Ridge early Friday evening.

In a social media post shortly after 6:15 p.m., the Ridge Meadows RCMP said officers were "responding to a shots-fired situation unfolding in the area of Lougheed Highway and 222 Street."

Investigators urged the public to avoid the area and use alternate routes through the city as police continue to investigate.

Later in the evening, the Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed that it had been deployed to investigate the death.

IHIT said Ridge Meadows RCMP was called for a report of a shooting in the area just before 5:15 p.m.

When they arrived, first responders found a man suffering life-threatening injuries, police said. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died from those injuries at the scene.

Emily Brussow works at a liquor store down the block from the shooting. She said a co-worker who walked over to Tim Hortons saw the victim before he was shot.