One person was killed and two others were wounded Sunday in a shooting in downtown Long Beach near the grand opening for a new location of late-rapper Nipsey Hussle’s Marathon Burger restaurant.
The shooting occurred about 3:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Pine Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department. It was about a half block from the restaurant.
Three people were transported from the scene by ambulance, with one in critical condition, Long Beach Fire Capt. Jack Crabtree said. One person died, police said later.
Long Beach resident Bennie Randall, 60, who came out to celebrate the opening of the burger spot, said he heard shots and saw people scrambling.
“People were running everywhere,” he said. “I saw a lot of cops chasing the two guys in the alley over there, and they got them in the alley right there.”
He added, “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.”
Police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting and any suspect information were all under investigation Sunday evening.
Crowds gathered hours earlier to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening, with a ribbon-cutting by Snoop Dogg, who helped bring the well-known Los Angeles fast-food chain to Long Beach.
Marathon Burger was founded by the late rapper Nipsey Hussle and his family. The restaurant was built in partnership with Snoop Dogg.
Casey Parker, a business partner with the restaurant company, said the commotion occurred while a block party was underway, but to his knowledge it was unrelated to the restaurant.
Hustle, born Ermias Asghedom, was fatally shot in the head and body on W. Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles in 2019 as he stood with two other men in the parking lot in front of the clothing store and several other businesses he owned.
His killer, Eric R. Holder Jr., was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison.
This is a developing story; please check for updates.