Vancouver police are requesting more officers for their gang squad after describing Thursday's restaurant shooting rampage — which left two dead and six wounded — as one of the worst in the city's history.

Police and forensic investigators quickly arrived at the scene of the shooting at the Fortune Happiness Restaurant in East Vancouver.
(Brett Ballah/CBC)

"The early part of the investigation is telling us this is not a random attack," said Const. Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department. "Typically, we'd see things like this and it would indicate to us that it's a targeted hit."

Deputy Chief Bob Rich said the attack at the East Vancouver restaurant appears to be gang violence, while adding it's too soon to say for sure.

Police said two masked men walked into the Fortune Happiness Restaurant at 654 East Broadway just west of Fraser Street and opened fire at about 4:30 a.m. PT.

Those shot, four men and four women, were all sitting at the same table, Chow said.

The slain men were aged 19 and 26 and of Asian descent, according to police, who added that the men were known to them.

One of the six wounded people is in critical condition. Police aren't saying whether any of the victims have co-operated in the investigation.

The two unidentified shooters fled through the restaurant's back door and are still at large.

Police said the gunfire was intense: 9-mm and .40-calibre shell casings littered the floor, and tables and chairs were flipped over inside the restaurant.

About half a dozen other people were in the restaurant at the time. They were taken to the police station for questioning as witnesses, as forensic and homicide experts investigated the scene.

Automatic weapons

Police would not comment on the type of weapons used, but said semi-automatic and other weapons are becoming increasingly common in gang activity in Vancouver.

Two men are dead and six people are in hospital with bullet wounds after an early-morning shooting at a restaurant.
(CBC)

"Earlier reports that police have two suspects in custody are not correct," said Chow, but added that police are looking for several persons of interest.

Police would not say whether there was a security video at the restaurant.

CBC News has learned the restaurant had been closed down for serving alcohol after hours in 2006, and for chopping fish on a plywood cutting board and other sanitary concerns.

Police said they were called to the restaurant two or three years ago following a stabbing on the sidewalk outside, but they don't believe the incidents are related.

Local residents described the restaurant to CBC as "dodgy" and "not a family place for sure." But police said the neighbourhood is safe.

"Vancouver is still a safe city. And this is still a safe part of the city," Rich said.

Officers spent the morning going door to door in the neighbourhood, talking to residents and shopkeepers while a helicopter circled overhead.