The highly awaited inauguration of Marathon Burger in downtown Long Beach, an event dedicated to celebrating the life of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, was tragically interrupted by gunfire on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
According to police, the shooting began shortly after 3:30 p.m., occurring about half a block south of the event at Broadway near Pine Avenue, just outside the established perimeter for the celebration.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of attendees had gathered for the grand opening of the new Marathon Burger outlet, a fast food venture launched by Nipsey Hussle and his brother Black Sam.
Witness Eric VanDyke, a relative of Hussle, recounted the chaotic scene as panic spread.
"I saw people running. When you see a mass of people running, you know something's going on, and they ran in one direction, and then the other direction, then somebody said that they heard gunshots," he stated.
VanDyke expressed his disappointment over how the violence overshadowed such a momentous occasion.
"It was disappointing because I know that Nip, Black Sam wanted this to be a happy occasion, so it's unfortunate that something happened that would bring more attention to the negative elements as opposed to the positive elements," he lamented.
Reports revealed that three men suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to a hospital, where one succumbed to injuries. The other two victims were reported to be in stable condition on the night of the incident.
Long Beach resident Seven described the situation as heartbreaking, emphasizing that it was especially tragic given the grand opening.
"That's devastating, you know what I'm saying, especially being that this is the grand opening. We're here to honor Nipsey Hussle, the late great, and that's not what he would have wanted," Seven commented.
Authorities indicated that no suspects have been apprehended as the investigation continues.
This unfortunate shooting occurred just a day after a ceremony that renamed the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue to Nipsey Hussle Square.
The memorable event had seen attendance from Hussle’s former partner, Lauren London, and was situated near the original site of The Marathon clothing store.
Nipsey Hussle was tragically killed in 2019 outside one of his establishments at the age of 33. Eric Ronald Holder Jr., the man convicted for his murder, received a 60-year prison sentence in 2023.
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