[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Crenshaw native and Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on Sunday outside his South L.A. clothing store, according to the L.A. County Coroner's office.
An autopsy was to be performed on Monday, April 1, said coroner officer Sarah Ardalani. His time of death was 3:55 pm. [Updated]
Mourners and neighbors gathered outside the crime scene well into the evening, with many expressing anger and regret at the loss of a local artist who was described as a positive influence and role model in the South L.A. area. People were still gathered late into the night.
for those that don't know, Nipsey Hussle opened up his flagship Marathon store a couple of years ago at Crenshaw and Slauson and has worked to help uplift neighborhood folks in the process... this is heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/J4oqttfvSU
— sahra (@sahrasulaiman) March 31, 2019
More than three hours after the shooting, stunned fans and residents remained crowded outside the police tape at the shopping center where Marathon Clothing is located; on the southwest corner of Slauson at Crenshaw. Women and men were heard bemoaning Hussle's death and warning that retaliatory violence could follow.
Police told reporters a suspect walked up to Hussle and shot him at close range, then fled in a getaway vehicle. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said on Twitter that Hussle's homicide is part of a "troubling surge" in violence in L.A.
Others claimed out-loud that Hussle's shooting was "an inside job" and that he was targeted for providing hope and opportunity for young locals. Ashgedom went to Hamilton High School and was known as "quiet" and ambitious. But like many youth of his generation in South Los Angeles, he was pushed into gang life, belonging as a teen to a clique of the Rolling 60s, a Crips gang.
Hussle's underground legend grew when he released a mixtape but made only 1,000 units of it and sold each for $100. He transformed into a local entrepreneur, opening several businesses in the Slauson-Crenshaw area including a co-working space and STEM programs.
In a profile about Hussle and actress-model Lauren London published in the March 2019 issue of GQ, writer Mark Anthony Green noted: "Some people know him solely by his investments," and that Hussle and London remained in a still un-'exploited' realm of pop culture. Hussle is described in the piece as intensely focused on carrying out his vision for bettering the community.
The rapper later helped revive the beloved Mid-City roller rink World on Wheels in 2017, cementing his status as a leader on the streets of Los Angeles. The pair are described as a storybook couple in modern hip-hop.
Hussle released a debut studio album (Victory Lap) in 2018, earning his first Grammy nomination, after a long career boasting multiple mixtapes and radio hits. Shortly before the incident, Hussle appears to have left a cryptic Twitter message, saying: "Having strong enemies is a blessing."
On Sunday, candles and flowers were laid at a nearby corner. "This ain't right," said Green, the neighbor.
Having strong enemies is a blessing.
— THA GREAT (@NipseyHussle) March 31, 2019
UPDATE: An Instagram video is circulating of a person who claims to have shot Nipsey Hussle. The authenticity of the video could not be confirmed and no other statements have been made by police.
** Last updated 10:53 am, April 1.
** Last updated 11:33 pm., March 31
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