Officers continue to investigate following a series of weekend shootings that left two men dead and a teenager seriously injured.

Family and friends said 28-year-old Mohamed Ali Omar, a father of three, was found shot in the parking lot of the Lincoln Hotel on McPhillips Street early Sunday morning. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but later died.

"He was a terrific man…completely (irreplaceable)," said Justin Ducharme, a friend of Omar's.

"He's not the type of guy that is around that stuff – he's a family man and he works at a hospital," said Ducharme.

Two other shootings were reported on the weekend.

Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, 20-year-old Oudy Phrakonekham was gunned down while riding in an SUV in the Exchange District. He was also rushed to hospital but died from injuries.

A third victim, a 14-year-old boy, was shot on Selkirk Avenue Saturday afternoon. He remains in hospital.

The two homicides bring the number of murders in Winnipeg to 34 for the year, tying a record set in 2004.

Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill held a press conference on Monday.

McCaskill stressed that the best way to prevent the violence is through social intervention.

"(You) can't…totally police your way out of the crime problem. It's got to a multi-pronged approach. You have to have the social issues. You have to have the policing - it has to be together," said McCaskill.

Out of the 34 homicides this year, six have possible links to gangs. The chief wouldn't rule that out in the latest shootings.

With no arrests made yet, two officers with previous homicide experience have temporarily joined the homicide unit from other units to help with the heavy caseload.

Justin Ducharme, meanwhile, is hoping for justice. He said he doesn't know why anyone would hurt his friend.

He said the violence needs to end.

"Guns have to stop. Gangs have to stop. It's doing nothing for us," said Ducharme.

Out of the 34 murders reported in 2011, arrests have been made in 30 of them so far.

The police service is working on a strategic crime reduction plan, which is expected to be made public in the next few weeks.

Anyone with information on the weekend shootings is asked to contact the homicide unit at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.

- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley