Fatal shooting in hotel hosting US women's soccer

updated 5:26 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2012

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A man was shot and killed in a restaurant of the hotel hosting the U.S. women's soccer team during the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Coach Pia Sundhage said none of her players witnessed the shooting and they were unaware of the incident until it was over. The U.S. is one of three soccer teams at the hotel.

"We were at a meeting. We were meeting and talking soccer," Sundhage said after Wednesday's practice session. "We're safe and secure."

Police were called to the Sheraton Wall Centre at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday and found the body of a man dead from apparent gunshot wounds in a restaurant.

Teams from Cuba and the Dominican Republic also were staying at the hotel.

U.S. goalie Hope Solo tweeted: "Saved by our instant yoga session. Was about to walk to starbucks when all hell broke loose in the lobby of our hotel! Life is precious..."

Police had not identified the victim and had no information on a suspect. A cracked window and bullet hole could be seen from outside the hotel. It marked the city's first homicide of the year.

Richard Scott, with Soccer Canada, said CONCACAF officials went to the hotel after the shooting to confirm no one was injured.

"I would imagine that probably 99 percent of the athletes would have been in their rooms at that time," he said.

The eight-team CONCACAF tournament begins Thursday with Canada against Haiti. The U.S. team plays the Dominican Republic on Friday.

The tournament runs through Jan. 29.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46040521/ns/sports-olympic_sports/

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