The death of Kaila Tran, killed in a Winnipeg parking lot on Wednesday, is now officially a homicide, police say.

Her death is the city's 17th homicide of the year.

Flowers placed on Thursday at the site where Kaila Tran was fatally stabbed the day before.Flowers placed on Thursday at the site where Kaila Tran was fatally stabbed the day before. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

Tran, 26 was stabbed while near her car in the St. Vital neighbourhood. It happened just after 7 a.m. near Bonita Avenue and Clayton Drive, off St. Anne's Road.

A number of people in the area, which has several apartment buildings, witnessed the attack. They said Tran was screaming as a man assaulted her.

He then ran off toward the nearby Seine River.

Police flooded the area with about a dozen vehicles and a canine unit in a search of the suspect but no arrests have been made.

The suspect is described as being in his early 20s with short dark hair and olive-coloured skin. He has a slim build and is about five feet and six inches to six feet tall.