Gang activity was not to blame for a shooting in Winnipeg's North End that killed a 16-year-old boy on the weekend, police said Monday.

The incident, which took place in a house in the 300 block of Flora Avenue around 5 p.m. Sunday, had nothing to do with gangs, Sgt. Kelly Dennison said Monday. The teen was shot in the abdomen and later died in hospital.

"It looks like this was an incident with a group of individuals who all knew one another, and this 16-year-old was the one who received a gunshot wound to his lower body and died because of it," Dennison said.

The police service's Major Crimes unit was continuing to investigate the matter.

Officers have taken some people in for questioning, but no arrests have been made to date.

Dennison said there are a wide range of possibilities as to how the incident occurred.

Police, residents worried about guns

Dennison said that regardless how the incident, getting guns off the streets has to be a priority.

"The number of guns on the street is always going to be a concern to us — not just for the safety of the citizens here in Winnipeg, [but] obviously for police officers' safety as well," Dennison said.

"The more guns on the street, the more danger that anybody could come into contact with [them]."

Joyce Clyke, who lives near the Flora Avenue home where the boy was shot, said she felt "devastated" by the incident.

"I feel really bad for that young guy. There's just too many things happening around here with the young people," she said.

"Everybody should get together and, you know, and talk to these kids because … it's terrible."