One person was killed and two more injured when a shooting erupted near the grand opening of late rapper Nipsey Hussle's new burger restaurant in California. At around 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon, shots were fired around the 200 block of Pine Avenue in Long Beach, according to police. The incident was around half a block away from the burger restaurants grand opening - which was celebrating a new location of Marathon Burger.
From celebration to chaos
The opening of the fast food chain, founded by Hussle's estate after the rapper was shot dead in 2019, saw a massive turnout, including Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg, in partnership with the opening, snipped the ribbon and was seen flipping burgers inside not long before the gunfire erupted up the street. Long Beach Fire Captain Jack Crabtree told the Press-Telegram that a total of three people were sent to the hospital and one was in critical condition. Police later said that person later succumbed to their injuries. The identities of those injured or killed in the incident have not yet been revealed.
Manhunt in the alley
Bennie Randall, a 60-year-old local who had come to celebrate the opening of the burger joint, told the outlet that he heard gunfire before people scattered. 'People were running everywhere,' he told the outlet. 'I saw a lot of cops chasing the two guys in the alley over there, and they got them in the alley right there.' 'It's supposed to be a good thing for people to come out, they're trying to do something good for the community and jobs and all that, and then something like this happens. It's terrible.' Currently, police have not confirmed any suspects or motive for the shooting as the investigation continues.
Casey Parker, a business partner with the burger chain, said the chaos erupted during a block party. To his knowledge the shooting was unrelated to the restaurant opening, the outlet reported. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who was at the grand opening, said in a statement to the outlet: 'Thousands of residents gathered peacefully in downtown today to celebrate a proud moment for our community. Let me be clear: we will not allow violence to define our downtown or undermine the progress we are making. We will not retreat from investing in safe, active public spaces.'
Damia Gordon, a local who was also at the opening, wrote on Facebook: 'The shooting at the grand opening of Marathon Burger in Long Beach. I am terrified. I went to Agaves restaurant to celebrate a model's birthday across from Marathon Burger. All of us were having a great time then all of a sudden we saw a lot of people migrating into one direction. Then we heard shooting. People were saying the police & someone else was shooting. Don't know what happened exactly.' Hussle was shot in Los Angeles in 2019 in a parking lot in front of a clothing store he owned. The shooter, Eric R Holder Jr, was sentenced to 60 years to life behind bars, the outlet reported.