On the eve of April 1st, 2019, Nipsey Hussle's fans, friends, and family gathered for a vigil outside his store in Los Angeles, where the rapper was shot down several nights ago.
Just after 8 PM, however, police scanners reported disturbances at the vigil putting citizen's safety in danger.
BREAKING: Police are responding to a disturbance near the Nipsey Hussle memorial in Hyde Park.— NBC Los Angeles (@NBC Los Angeles)1554175403.0
Female hit by car Crenshaw & Slauson , is bleeding out… need RA ASAP— Venice 311 (@Venice 311)1554175103.0
Crenshaw and Slauson to be declared an unlawful assembly, LAPD to clear EVERYONE.— Venice 311 (@Venice 311)1554175303.0
It turns out the large gathered crowd, upon hearing an unidentified loud noise, mistook it for a gunshot.
Given the high tensions in the area following Hussle's death, the crowd panicked and ran away, causing a stampede.
A HUGE stampede of people rushed out of the @NipseyHussle memorial area. People thought they heard something break… https://t.co/wXTnoVvCV8— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554175398.0
Police responded to the scene quickly, attempting to control the situation.
We are staying in our truck for now. Police are everywhere. The helicopter was just saying over loudspeaker telling… https://t.co/RRXuqcS6TL— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554175960.0
At least one person is injured. Blood everywhere next to this person. The stampede at @NipseyHussle’s memorial may… https://t.co/3TZ9lFVJUy— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554176116.0
Look at all of the shoes people lost during the stampede... an area where candles were lit near the @NipseyHussle m… https://t.co/4bEVdpEHfk— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554176868.0
The crowd fleeing left chaos in its wake.
We’re hearing multiple people are injured and at least three are stuck in the middle of this crowd, unable to get h… https://t.co/oGhXQHCZaj— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554177634.0
LAPD moves in to break up crowd at Nipsey Hussle vigil. Huge crowd gathered after the rapper was murdered Sunday ou… https://t.co/pmJ2DxmHgv— Christine Devine (@Christine Devine)1554176235.0
After the dust had settled, police reported that several people had been injured by the stampeding crowd and subsequent fights that had broken out.
#BREAKING: Multiple people injured near Nipsey Hussle memorial in South Los Angeles, with reports of possible shots… https://t.co/vkMiXZGRI0— NBC Bay Area (@NBC Bay Area)1554176843.0
In the meantime, the city is making every effort to ensure people can mourn in safety.
Just spoke to a rep from @MayorOfLA office. The Crisis Mgmt team is going to move all the candles to one location a… https://t.co/ZVSm4vP1Du— Veronica Miracle (@Veronica Miracle)1554185799.0
Our men and women are on scene and making every effort to protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil… https://t.co/HAIZY0tI2d— LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ)1554177044.0
We understand the community is mourning and we feel your loss. We are asking for everyone to follow the officers… https://t.co/THgzFNfDHx— LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ)1554177045.0
Authorities also made an effort to let people know there had not been another shooting outside the store.
LAPD Media Relations spokesperson, Josh Rubenstein, said there were no shots heard at Nipsey's vigil & no one is be… https://t.co/2SZyBiclmu— Britni Danielle (@Britni Danielle)1554178110.0
Those following the events as they unfolded on Twitter were exasperated by the seemingly endless cycle of violence we all seem caught up in.
@ABC7Veronica @NipseyHussle @ABC7 I get so tired of this endless cycle. Violence, grief, more violence, more grief,… https://t.co/3NdqyxIiLE— Hannibal (@Hannibal)1554205782.0
@ABC7Veronica @NipseyHussle @ABC7 We all on edge...its real when someone we all loved so much was taken. This world is too cruel man😥— Peter⏫ (@Peter⏫)1554177222.0
@ABC7Veronica @NipseyHussle @ABC7 I’ve had enough of this sick world! Shame had a nice memorial with tons of suppor… https://t.co/ngfV53XoEu— kermitdrinkstea (@kermitdrinkstea)1554177833.0
Thankfully, no serious injuries were sustained and those mourning Hussle's death will be able to return to the scene shortly.
@NBCLA Prayers for the safety of all concerned especially for our first responders.— Reader Pere (@Reader Pere)1554189383.0