Police said the gunfire broke out just outside a crowded celebration for the fast food chain linked to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle.
LONG BEACH, CA — A shooting near the grand opening celebration of a new Marathon Burger in downtown Long Beach left one man dead and two others wounded Sunday afternoon, sending a large crowd running as police rushed to a nearby parking structure to look for suspects.
The gunfire erupted just after 3:30 p.m. in an area packed with fans, families and onlookers who had gathered for the opening of the newest location of the burger chain tied to Nipsey Hussle’s business legacy. Investigators have not said what led to the shooting, whether it was connected to the event, or who fired the shots. No arrests were announced Monday, and police said the motive and circumstances remained under investigation.
Police said officers were called at 3:32 p.m. to reports of gunfire near Pine Avenue, a few steps from a block party that had closed streets to traffic for the ribbon-cutting at the restaurant. The shooting happened about half a block south of the celebration, near Broadway and Pine Avenue, just outside the blocked-off perimeter, according to police and accounts from people who were at the scene. Video from the area showed people sprinting away as sirens and shouting cut through the music and crowd noise.
Witness Eric VanDyke, who told a television station he is related to Hussle, said the panic started fast and spread in waves. “I saw people running. When you see a mass of people running, you know something’s going on,” VanDyke said. He said the moment was hard to accept because organizers had hoped to keep the focus on a celebration of the rapper’s life and work. Another witness, Steve Clark, told a local station that “probably 100 people” rushed past him when the shots rang out.
Authorities said three men were shot and taken to a hospital. One later died, while the other two were listed in stable condition as of Sunday night. Police said the victims were in their late teens or early 20s, and their names were not released. Long Beach police sent homicide detectives to the scene and searched the area for evidence, including shell casings and surveillance video that may show the shooter’s path before and after the gunfire.
Investigators have not publicly described the weapon used or said how many shots were fired. A Long Beach Post report said officers heard an altercation and were heading toward it when they heard gunfire that appeared to come from a parking garage on Broadway. Officers moved in quickly, and video from the scene showed police with weapons drawn as they detained several people while securing the area. At one point, officers carried a wounded victim to a patrol vehicle to speed medical care, according to footage shared by local media.
The shooting unfolded alongside a high-profile public event that drew celebrities, local leaders and longtime supporters of Hussle, who was killed in 2019. Marathon Burger, part of the broader Marathon brand linked to Hussle and his family, held a ribbon-cutting at 245 Pine Ave., with crowds filling the sidewalks and spilling into the street. The Long Beach Post said the opening attracted figures including Snoop Dogg, rapper YG, radio host Big Boy and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. People in line described a festive scene before the gunfire, with music, vendors and fans taking photos near the restaurant.
Marathon Burger representatives publicly sought to separate the business from the violence, saying the shooting did not stem from the restaurant or the opening itself. A representative identified by local television as Casey Parker said organizers had security, street closures and a police presence for the event, and he said the shooting “wasn’t related to the restaurant at all.” Police have not confirmed a connection between the gunfire and the grand opening, and they have not said whether the victims were attending the celebration or were involved in a separate dispute nearby.
Still, the timing and location placed the violence directly next to a moment meant to highlight Hussle’s impact and the growth of businesses built around his name. The shooting came a day after another public gathering in Los Angeles honored the rapper, with city leaders formally naming the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard “Nipsey Hussle Square.” Supporters have long pointed to Hussle’s work in South Los Angeles and his investment in neighborhood projects as central to his legacy, and Marathon Burger has been promoted as one part of that continuing effort.
Long Beach police spokesperson Andrea Moran said Monday that detectives were still working to piece together what happened, including the motive and any suspect information. Authorities asked anyone with video from the scene to come forward, and investigators continued canvassing nearby businesses and buildings for security footage. Police did not announce any scheduled briefing, but said additional updates would be released as information becomes available and as investigators interview witnesses who were scattered by the initial chaos.
The grand opening continued in some form even as investigators worked behind crime scene tape close to the restaurant entrance, according to reports and social media posts from the business. The Long Beach Post reported that the restaurant stayed open and served customers into the night, including high-profile visitors. The decision underscored the split-screen reality that unfolded downtown: celebration and commerce on one side of the tape, and a homicide investigation on the other.
Residents and people who came to the event described shock that gunfire could erupt in such a crowded setting. A nearby resident who identified herself as Ms. Smoke told a local station, “It’s just sad. That’s all I can say.” Another resident identified as Seven said the shooting felt especially painful because the gathering was meant to honor Hussle. “That’s devastating,” Seven said, adding that the day was supposed to be a tribute, not a crime scene.
As of Monday afternoon, police had not released the name of the man who died, and they had not said whether any suspect was identified or if a gun was recovered. Investigators continued to review the sequence of events that led up to the shots, including reports of an altercation and the possibility that the gunfire came from or near a parking structure along Broadway.
Author note: Last updated March 3, 2026.