Raleigh police were called to the 3100 block of Woodpecker Court, near Poole and Sunnybrook roads in Southeast Raleigh, shortly after 5 p.m. Officers found a man who apparently had died from gunshot wounds. The victim was not identified.

The case is being investigated by the department's Major Crimes Task Force. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 890-3555.

Raleigh has already had more homicides this year than in any full year since 2000.

Almost two-thirds of the 25 incidents reported this year occurred in Southeast Raleigh. Police Chief Harry Patrick Dolan has linked the rise in homicides to a surge in robberies.

Robberies -- which in Raleigh have climbed at least 50 percent during the first six months of the year -- were the motive in about one-third of this year's slayings.

Durham police also were investigating a homicide Saturday.

Shortly after 4 p.m., police were called to 605 W. Chapel Hill Street. The victim was not identified. Officers were still looking for suspects, and no further information was available late Saturday.

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