Gangster shot dead at Vancouver's Wall Centre

Themanshot and killed in a busy downtown Vancouver hotel restaurant in front of dozens of shocked patrons on Tuesday night wasgangster Sandip Duhre, CBC News has learned.

Duhre, 36,was shot around 8:45 p.m. as he sat at a table inside the restaurant at the Wall Centre at 1088 Burrard St., according to reports. His body could be seen from outside the hotel, lying in front of a shattered window splattered with blood.

The shooting did not appear to be random,said Const. Lindsay Houghton on Tuesday night.

"Detectives are currently interviewing witnesses," said Houghton. "This does appear to be a targeted shooting," .

Duhre was allegedly part of an organized crime group active in the B.C. illicit drug trade and in a long-running conflict with rival gangs.

In September, policeissued a public warning thatmembers of the Duhre group and associated gangswere in danger, and so was anyonewho associated with them.

"If you are associating, if you are hanging around, or you are family or even friends of the... Duhres, you are in danger," said Supt. Tom McCluskie, of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

The death was Vancouver's first homicide of 2012.

U.S. soccer team in lobby

Members of the U.S. women's soccer team were in the hotel lobby when the shooting occurred, but all are safe and none witnessed the actual shooting, said U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman Neil Buethe.

Goalie Hope Solo tweeted: "Saved by our instant yoga session. Was about to walk to Starbucks when all hell broke loose in the lobby of our hotel! Life is precious."

The team was staying at the hotel for the eight-team CONCACAF tournament, which begins Thursday.