Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was gunned down on Sunday outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles, was scheduled to meet with the city's police chief and the president of police commission Monday afternoon to discuss ways he could help prevent children from getting involved in gangs.
"We're talking about programs to help underserved kids, to keep kids out of gangs. And this was his idea. We've been working on this meeting for three months. How I wish it would have been on Saturday," Steve Soboroff, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, told ABC News on Monday morning. The rapper has spoken publicly about his involvement with the Rollin' 60s gang, one of the biggest Crip gangs in Los Angeles.
Hussle, who was lauded as an entrepreneur in his home city and "inspiration to many," was standing in a parking lot outside his clothing store in L.A.'s Hyde Park area around 3:20 p.m. Sunday when a gunman approached and shot him multiple times and left two other people wounded, police said. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The coroner determined the rapper died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso, ruling the manner of death a homicide.
Police continued working Monday to identify the killer and anyone else who may have been involved in the shooting.
Soboroff said the meeting Nipsey Hussle had requested with him and Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore would go on as scheduled with representatives of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by rapper Jay-Z, set to attend.
"I just got a note from Roc Nation that said go ahead and have the meeting," Soboroff said. "I still have to get it verified with the chief, but I told those guys we will."
Moore tweeted early Monday that the slaying of the 33-year-old rapper, who was born Ermias Asghedom and raised in the neighborhood where he was fatally shot, came during a "troubling surge in violence" in Los Angeles.
Moore tweeted that since last Sunday, 26 victims have been shot and there were an additional 10 homicides.
"That's 36 families left picking up the pieces," Moore tweeted. "We will work aggressively with our community to quell this senseless loss of life."
Tonight's homicide in South LA represents the latest loss in a troubling surge in violence. Since last Sunday 26 victims have been shot & 10 homicides—that's 36 families left picking up the pieces. We will work aggressively with our community to quell this senseless loss of life. pic.twitter.com/1fsJXCcflS
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 1, 2019
Just hours before he was killed, the rapper took to Twitter, writing, "Having strong enemies is a blessing."
Having strong enemies is a blessing.
— THA GREAT (@NipseyHussle) March 31, 2019
Some of hip-hop's biggest and brightest stars took to social media on Sunday to mourn the entertainer's death.
(Slideshow: Notable people lost in 2019)Hundreds of fans congregated in front of Nipsey Hussle's store, The Marathon, where he was shot.
"I was a childhood friend. I've been knowing him all my life. He was like family to me," Marquesha Lawson, breaking down in tears, told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.
Fan Jennifer Marroquin said she was always moved by the rapper's music, which she described as "real."
"I loved his music. His music was very real," Marroquin told KABC. "It was not like music you hear nowadays that don't make sense. His music made a lot of sense to everybody. "
The rapper's debut studio album, "Victory Lap," received a 2019 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, but hip-hop sensation Cardi B ultimately took home the win.
"Nipsey" quickly became the top trending topic on Twitter as celebrities -- Drake, Rihanna, LeBron James and Snoop Dogg among them -- and fans paid homage to the late rapper.
"My whole energy is just at a low right now hearing this. We just linked for the first time in years and said we were gonna do a new song this summer cause it had been too long," Drake captioned the picture. "You were having the best run and I was so happy watching from distance fam. Nobody ever talks down on your name."
Rihanna shared an image of the late rapper and his daughter, Emani Asghedom, at this year's Grammy Awards.
(MORE: Chance the Rapper shares story about how he met his fiancee when they were kids)"This doesn't make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this!" Rihanna wrote in an Instagram post. "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 @nipseyhussle."
Pharrell, Meek Mill, Chance the Rapper, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nas and other Hollywood stars also sent condolences via social media.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents South Los Angeles, where Hussle grew up, honored the rapper as a businessman and entrepreneur who was an "inspiration to many."
"We mourn his sudden and tragic passing and send his family our deepest condolences," Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. "As South Los Angeles' representative on the Board of Supervisors, I urge calm and a period of reflection. ... Our communities have lost too many young men and bright futures to the scourge of gun violence."
(MORE: Lupita Nyong'o apologizes amid criticism of inspiration for 'Us' voice: 'A creation of my imagination')Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti similarly sent condolences.
"Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy," Garcetti tweeted Sunday. "L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence. My Crisis Response Team is assisting the families coping with shock and grief."
(MORE: Stevie Nicks and Janet Jackson head to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)Hussle is survived by his two children and his girlfriend, actress Lauren London. He was known throughout greater Los Angeles for his philanthropy and community involvement.
Watching Nipsey inspired me to invest and own in our communities. He was a solid man who loved his woman, his family and his community. This hurts.
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 1, 2019
Nipsey you a legend. I respect and admire your career path and what you did for the neighborhood. My heart broke today when I saw the news. I’m praying for your loved ones. This was sposed to be the year we got one in. God had bigger plans for you 🙏🏿
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 1, 2019
You were about something..positive and for your community in every chance you had to speak..and because of that You inspired millions..millions who will uphold your legacy forever. rest amongst the stars. 🙏🏾 https://t.co/7gZ795wcQT
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) April 1, 2019
Broke me.... we really fighting for our lives against our own kind and really have to take risk and match the level of hatred that we are born in .. I’m tired 🙏🏾 prayers for my brother and his family
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 1, 2019
God please cover and restore @NipseyHussle right now!!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) March 31, 2019
I’ll remember him this way. Bright, genuine, forward thinking.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 1, 2019
I’ll remember the beauty that he saw in our community. And the beauty that he was.
He loved us. He’s left that love with us. And it cannot die.
Rest in Power, King. You mattered. #FarewellNipsey pic.twitter.com/fiSvURrz3U
ABC News' Alex Stone and Matt Zarrell contributed to this report.
