A 35-year-old man is dead after being gunned down in the parking lot of the Port Moody Recreation Complex Wednesday night.

Police haven't released his name, but the Vancouver Sun is reporting him to be Bin Toor, who is believed to have links to the Duhre gang.

According to Vancouver police investigators, who have taken over the case from the Port Moody Police Department, it appears the victim was exiting his car just after 9: 30 p.m. to go play ball hockey when he was shot.

A dark-coloured SUV was reportedly seen fleeing the scene.

The man was rushed to hospital, where he later died.

The VPD said the victim was known to police, and the shooting was targeted and gang-related.

At the time of the shooting, there were hundreds of people using the centre, including Sara Johnson and Trevor Olafson.

They had just arrived to watch a ball hockey game, when they heard the shots and saw the sparks as they walked through the parking lot.

"We got out of the car, heard loud noises, so we looked over and saw a bunch of flashes and didn't think anything of it, so we started walking towards it," Johnson told The NOW.

The pair said they felt the vibration from the blast, but originally figured it was fireworks.

"We thought it was fireworks, but some guy yelled 'Hey' and ran, but we didn't think anything of it," Olafson said, adding he could see someone behind the flash, but it was too dark to get a good look.

It wasn't until the North Delta residents got inside the building that they realized it was a shooting.

"It was just after we found out, it was like 'Holy, that's what we saw?'" Olafson said. "It was just weird."

Brendan Campbell and his teammates were playing soccer on the field behind the recreation centre when they heard the sound of gunfire.

He heard nine shots in total, six in a quick spray and three more delayed.

Shortly after, he heard sirens and saw police running around the building. With a deadly shooting a few hours earlier in Maple Ridge, Campbell said he was already on edge.

"It's so crazy," he said. Though the shooting might have been too close for comfort, it also was a major hassle for the Langley resident.

With his car in the parking lot behind police tape, he was stuck at the recreation centre for several hours.

He estimated more than 40 people were either playing or watching the game during the time of the shooting.

It turns out dozens of cars wouldn't be able to leave the lot until 1 a.m., more than three hours after the shooting.

Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay was also at City Hall after the shooting to check on staff.

Though several patrons expressed their frustrations at not being able to get their cars out of the lot for hours, he said police needed the space to carry out the investigation.

"This is a crime scene," he said. "You have to let them do their job, and they're doing their job."

Clay also gave high marks to city staff, who left the recreation centre open for a couple of extra hours and helped people trying to get home.

He indicated the city would conduct a basic review of the evening's events.

This is the first homicide in Port Moody in years.

Clay, who called the shooting "unfortunate," said it is not a reflection on Port Moody.

He suggested the shooting could have happened anywhere in the Lower Mainland.

"It could have been a shop-ping centre parking lot, could be on the street, or could be in that parking lot. It could happen anywhere. It's sad but true," Clay said.

"Generally we don't have a lot of criminals in Port Moody because the Port Moody police are pretty good about them."

VPD Const. Lindsey Houghton appeared to echo the mayor's comments, suggesting the shooting had little to do with Port Moody.

"This just happened to be the place where whoever perpetrated this decided this was where it was going to happen," he said.

Houghton noted police have spoken with several witnesses at the scene, but are still asking anyone else with information to contact the Vancouver Police Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500.

By daylight, the recreation centre was still blocked off by yellow tape, while investigators were combing the scene looking for clues.

All classes and programs were cancelled Thursday, but City Hall and the library remained open.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com