One man is dead and the RCMP's integrated homicide investigation team is on the case after a Thursday morning incident in the 500-block of Colby Street.

According to New Westminster Police Sgt. Diana McDaniel, police responded just after 6:15 a.m. to a disturbance in the basement suite of the home near the Burnaby-New Westminster border.

"The upstairs tenant heard four or five gunshots," said McDaniel, who added that once police arrived, they found the lone tenant in the basement dead.

"Our major crime section has been working on the case, and we have not determined the ID of the man or the cause of death," said McDaniel. "IHIT has been called and will be investigating. ... Right now, the death has been deemed suspicious."

Colby Street is a short, dead-end street accessible from Holmes Street. The closest major street is East Columbia and Hume Park is not far away. Police cordoned off access to Colby Street Thursday, along with several alleyways that feed in and around the street.

While many people who lived on the street were going about their daily business on Thursday morning, few had any details about what happened.

"I woke up at 4 a.m. and saw lights flashing," said neighbour Erlinda Pineda, who has lived in the area for 12 years. "I was scared. I woke up my husband and was looking out there."

Pineda said the street is usually quiet and she's surprised that something like this happened.

McDaniel said police still have to notify the victim's next of kin and IHIT will be providing further details on the case.

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