Alok Gupta, 27, had volunteered to work the afternoon shift to allow the store owners celebrate Christmas together, and was killed by an unidentified gunman.

It is not yet clear whether Gupta was shot during a robbery attempt.

Police is yet to make an arrest in connection with the case, but say they do not believe it was gang-related.

"The victim was working Christmas Day as a good deed to the owners who wished to celebrate Christmas together," said Sgt Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Gupta sought help at a nearby residence and was taken to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead a short time later, Pound was quoted as saying by the 'Vancouver Sun' newspaper.

"Although it appears that the victim died from a gunshot wound, the cause of death will ultimately be confirmed through an autopsy," she said.

Gupta's brother-in-law Nitin Bhutani said his family is in a state of shock since they were informed of the shocking death.

Bhutani said Alok, who was studying Master's in Business Administration at Kwantlen University, was getting "excellent grades" and was close to the top of his class.

The family's main concern is that police arrest Gupta's murderer, Bhutani told CTV News from Germany.