Officers were on the scene at Inkster Boulevard early Sunday morning, searching for clues in a deadly hit and run.

The victim, identified by friends and family as 22-year-old Chris Nero, was taken to hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.

"It's still kind of surreal that he's gone,” said former classmate Joel Chaves.

Chaves went to school with Nero and they kept in touch on Facebook. He said Nero was a construction worker who had a lot of ambition and was a big hockey fan.

"I honestly just couldn't believe that he was gone,” said Chaves. “Just the other day he made a (Facebook) status update about the Stanley Cup and rooting for his team, Tampa Bay."

Nero was walking in the area when he was hit by a vehicle at around 11:30 Saturday night.

The driver didn't stop.

"That bugs me the most because, why? You're such a coward,” said Chaves of the driver. “I don't know why you would do that. You've just taken someone's life."

The area where Nero was hit is largely industrial and most businesses aren't open late on a Saturday. People who work in the area said there likely would've been few witnesses around at the time of the incident.

“Absolutely there are some challenges when we don't have a lot of eyewitness account,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen from Winnipeg police.

Police have reached out to the public and investigators visited local businesses, searching for surveillance cameras and any other clues that could help police find the driver.

"There's always that potential there's a small bit of information that's going to take this investigation to that next level so we're very optimistic,” said Const. Michalyshen.

Chaves hopes someone will come forward and take responsibility for what happened.

"I understand if you're just running away because you're in shock but you need to turn yourself in because you're going to be haunted by guilt for the rest of your life," said Chaves.

Nero's best friend Justin Frost said he's known Chris since the two of them were infants and he's shocked by the tragedy.

"It's like a nightmare I haven't woken up from yet," he said.

Frost has started fundraising to help Nero's family cover the cost of the funeral.

Friends and family also plan to visit the site where Nero was hit on Inkster.

So far, the only description police have of the vehicle is that it likely has substantial damage to the windshield.

They’re asking the public to come forward if they saw anything unusual.

Anyone with information can contact investigators at: 204-986-6271 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.