2 deaths being investigated as homicides at Downtown Eastside hotel

Three homicides in about 30 minutes in Vancouver Police are investigating three homicides in two unrelated incidents in Vancouver.

Vancouver — Police in Vancouver are investigating two deaths in a Downtown Eastside hotel as homicides.

Vancouver police say they were called to the Astoria Hotel on East Hastings Street at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. They found two people unresponsive in a room.

"One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other died at hospital," Vancouver police said in a news release the next morning.

Const. Tania Visintin says Astoria Hotel staff made the call to police.

That investigation comes as officers investigate a third homicide in South Vancouver. The two incidents aren't believed to be related, police say, adding that there isn't a risk to the public.

"Of course it's very concerning for us," Visintin said. "Our investigators were working around the clock last night."

Visintin says the victims had a history with police and no arrests have been made. Investigators are looking into whether the deaths are related to ongoing gang conflict in the Lower Mainland but haven't confirmed any links.