At least 19 people were injured at a makeshift memorial for the slain rapper Nipsey Hussle in Los Angeles on Monday night, as a stampede broke out when mourners tried to flee the area.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the panic. Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department said on Twitter that initial reports of shots being fired were inaccurate.
A HUGE stampede of people rushed out of the @NipseyHussle memorial area. People thought they heard something break or a loud noise and started running. @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/rVp84eNCYi
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) April 2, 2019
Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said at least 19 people had been transported to hospitals, including two in critical condition and two in serious condition. One of the patients in critical condition was hit by a car.
“The majority of the injuries are minor and as a result of trampling injuries from the crowd,” she said.
Hundreds of fans had been gathered outside the Marathon Clothing store, where mourners paid tribute to the rapper throughout the day.
[“He meant everything to the community”: The rapper’s Crenshaw neighborhood was shaken by the shooting.]
Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was fatally shot outside the store he owned on Sunday. An autopsy found he had been shot in the head and torso.
Late Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department identified Eric Holder, 29, of Los Angeles, as a suspect in the shooting, which injured two other people. He was last seen in a white 2016 Chevy Cruze.
Nipsey Hussle’s death was felt deeply in Crenshaw, the neighborhood where he grew up and maintained a regular presence after becoming a Grammy-nominated artist. His fans said he offered hope, advocated self-improvement and financially invested in the community, which has long struggled with violent crime. He opened a co-working space dedicated to increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and planned to meet Monday with police officials to discuss ways to prevent gang violence.
His debut studio album, “Victory Lap,” was nominated for best rap album at the Grammys last year and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard chart. He had two children, Kross and Emani.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/us/nipsey-hussle-eric-holder.html
2019-04-02 12:02:05Z
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