Rapper Nipsey Hussle was gunned down in broad daylight outside of his clothing shop, The Marathon Store, on Sunday, March 31. Nipsey, whose real name was Ermias Davidson Asghedom, was just 33 years old at the time of his untimely death.
While a gunman has yet to be identified, authorities believe that it may be a gang-related incident.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation said Hussle was shot by a young man who opened fire at close range and then ran to a waiting getaway car. Based on initial information, the shooter is probably associated with a gang, the source said.”
The suspect, who remains at large, has only been described as a “black male.”
Nipsey Hussle Gang Ties
With reports that Nipsey’s murder was gang-related, it draws attention to his past where he was once an open member of the Rollin 60s street gang. The Rollin 60s are a Crip set based out of Los Angeles, California. The Rollin 60s were previously described as “the largest black criminal street gang in the City of Los Angeles with over 1,600 active members – the size of an Army brigade.”
Members of the gang often identify themselves by wearing Seattle Mariners or Chicago White Sox logos.
At the time of his death, Nipsey Hussle had plans in place to meet with police to discuss gang violence. Nipsey, who was loved in his community and often gave back to those in need, was set to meet with Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff on Monday, April 1, less than 24 hours after he was gunned down in public.
“We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I ) were meeting, at the request of @NipseyHussle with him and @rocnation tomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I’m so very sad,” Soboroff tweeted.
The Crenshaw rapper is survived by his girlfriend Lauren London and his two children.
Our deepest condolences are with Nipsey’s family, friends, and all of those impacted by his passing at this difficult time.
