In a moment of frightening confusion at a vigil for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, hundreds of mourners flee the area. Police don't believe it was a shooting, but there are reports of several injuries. / ABC
A vigil for rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was killed in a brazen daylight shooting, has descended into chaos after a loud bang sent hundreds into a panic.
Emergency services are reporting at least 12 have been injured in the candlelight vigil that first started as a peaceful memorial for the rapper.
"We had at least one patient in critical condition that was transported at the initiation of the incident, but I cannot confirm the type on injuries suffered at this point," a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.
Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle gather at a makeshift memorial in the parking lot of the Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles where he was shot dead. Photo / AP
At least 65 firefighters are on scene and footage from the vigil shows dozens of police cars blocking city roads.
Hussle, 33, was shot and killed yesterday in a carpark, outside his Marathon Clothing store in south Los Angeles.
Nipsey Hussle, Grammy-nominated and widely respected rapper was shot and killed outside his Los Angeles clothing store yesterday. Photo / AP
People reportedly started throwing candles at officers as police tried to break up the vigil, and then a loud bang, which people immediately thought was a gunshot, caused a stampede.
LAPD has since said reports of shots fired "do not appear to be accurate".
Our people are onscene making every effort 2 protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil.
Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order.
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 2, 2019
There is still a heavy police presence near Marathon Clothing and news helicopters hovering over the vigil have captured hundreds of people sprinting away from the store.
At least one woman has been rushed to hospital in an ambulance, believed to be crushed by the stampede.
Hussle was one of three men shot yesterday after the rapper reportedly argued with the gunman.
The LA Times is reporting the gunman and Hussle were known to each other.
CCTV from a nearby business that overlooked Marathon Clothing's carpark caught the full exchange between the men on camera.
It showed the moment Hussle approaches the gunman before faltering and falling to the ground.
The cameras captured a man in a dark shirt approaching Hussle and a group of men before firing off a few shots.
This doesn’t make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! 💔🙏🏿 I’m so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhusslepic.twitter.com/rKZ2agxm2a
"Having strong enemies is a blessing," the tweet read.
It is believed Hussle had ties to the Crips, one of LA's largest street gangs.
During his 10-year career he has released multiple mixtapes and was nominated for a Grammy for his first studio album Victory Lap.
Signed to Atlantic Records, he performed at the Warner Music party in Los Angeles during Grammy Week.
Hussle released his first mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1 in 2005 and followed with two more, Bullets Ain't Got No Name volumes 1 and 2, in 2008. He signed with Epic Records that year, although an album he reportedly completed for the label South Central State of Mind was never released and he left the label in 2010.
In the years following he collaborated with Drake on the song Killer as well as Snoop Dogg on the song Upside Down.
He continued to release mixtapes over the years, collaborating with Rick Ross, YG, DJ Mustard and many others. In 2016 he released a song with YG about the presidential election called FDT.
He signed with Atlantic the following year and released Victory Lap earlier in 2018.
He has a child with actress Lauren London and the pair appeared in a GQ magazine profile last month.
Tributes flowed for the rapper yesterday, with fans and fellow celebrities sharing their shock at the devastating news.
