Hussle and two other men were standing outside a clothing store he co-owned in South Los Angeles on Sunday when the suspect, identified as Eric Holder, 29, of Los Angeles, approached and spoke with them, returning multiple times before opening fire, the police chief, Michel R. Moore, said at a news conference.
“Based on witness statements and the background of those that we’ve identified, we believe this to be a dispute between Mr. Hussle and Mr. Holder,” he said, declining to elaborate. “We believe they were known to each other.”
Moore later added that Holder was thought to be a member of a gang, but that police did not believe the shooting was related to gang rivalries. The police were still seeking Holder as of Tuesday.
Moore also said that a stampede at a vigil for Hussle on Monday night, in which more than a dozen people were injured, was the result of a panic stemming from a struggle over a handgun that was pulled out, but not fired, at the memorial.
“We had a series of falls, trips and injuries from the glass and other materials that were there, and that was the vast majority of the injuries that we saw,” he said.
Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said Monday night that 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.
Another person was stabbed, Moore said, and two women who arrived at a hospital with gunshot wounds said they were shot at the vigil after first reporting that they had been injured elsewhere. He added that while he was not questioning their account, a police commander at the vigil did not report hearing any gunfire.
Hundreds of fans and supporters had gathered throughout the day outside Marathon Clothing, the store that Hussle co-owned and outside of which he was shot, to pay tribute to the rapper, entrepreneur and community activist.
Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was remembered by city officials Tuesday as a gifted artist and passionate advocate for the South Los Angeles community in which he was raised.
“He was working closely with the city to help save lives and transform lives, even as he was doing that for himself,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said at the news conference. “He was a tireless advocate for the young people of this city and of this world, to lift them up with the possibility of not being imprisoned by where you come from or past mistakes.”
The rapper was scheduled to meet Monday afternoon with representatives from Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, and police officials to discuss how the community could support efforts to stop gang violence and help children in the area.
His death was felt particularly deeply in Crenshaw, the neighborhood he grew up in and rapped about and where he maintained a regular presence. 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 coworking space dedicated to increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and helped to promote black arts and culture.
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 was in a relationship with the actress and model Lauren London and had two children, Kross and Emani.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.