Police blocked off southeast Calgary roads for their investigation into gunfire that killed one and wounded two on Tuesday. (CBC)

The victim of a deadly drive-by shooting was a 20-year-old Calgary man involved in gang activity, police said Wednesday.

Matthew John Chubak was killed when gunfire erupted as two vehicles moved along a street in the southeast community of Dover Tuesday afternoon.

Both vehicles were heading north on 26th Street S.E. near Peigan Trail, when occupants of one vehicle fired at another, causing the driver to veer off the road and slam through a fence.

Chubak was pronounced dead at the scene. Two wounded men, also in their 20s, who were found in the same vehicle were taken to hospital in critical condition, but they have since been upgraded to stable condition, police said in a news release Wednesday.

"It has been determined that all three of the victims are known to police either as gang members or associates, and are alleged to have been involved in gang-related activity," the release read.

Police have no suspects but are investigating an abandoned vehicle found on Cottonwood Crescent S.E.

'It's straight revenge'

Calgary police don't name gangs but have confirmed they believe the shooting is part of an ongoing, violent dispute between two groups that has been going on for several months.

Henry Hollinger, a gang expert and former police officer, said if gang violence isn't stopped, more innocent people will be hurt. A large reward for information, perhaps $100,000 or more, might loosen some lips, he said.

Over the past eight years, more than a dozen gang members have been slain because of the rivalry between two Calgary gangs: Fresh Off the Boat (FOB) and the Fresh Off the Boat Killers (FK).

"The gang culture deteriorated into a group of wild people that really are reckless and lawless. To the point they're endangering everybody in the city," Hollinger said.

This war is not about drugs, turf or money, he said.

"It's straight revenge. You kill one of ours, we kill two of yours. And it keeps going that way until there's nobody left."