Rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed Sunday eveningafter being shot on the streetoutside of his clothing store in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The 33-year-old musician, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, had been a constant presence at NBA games over the years, and stars of the league took to social media to mourn him in the hours after his passing.
“So so SAD man!!” Los Angeles Lakers starLeBron Jamestweeted along with a series ofexclamation points and crying emojis. “DAMN man this hurt.”
“Please just open your hearts, eyes and ears!” he wrote in a follow-up tweet. “Please let’s stopping waiting until we’re gone before we decide to finally LISTEN!”
Kyle Kuzma, James’ teammate on the Lakers,added: “My dawg you will be missed… we still gonna run these laps.”
Nipsey Hussle.Allen Berezovsky/Getty
As the Golden State Warriors took the court in Oakland on Sunday night, several players includingKevin Durantand Draymond Green were seen dancing as the arena played Hussle’s music. The Los Angeles rapper had dropped several mixtapes and worked withJAY-Z.
His album,Victory Lap —which is both his debut album and his last album to be released during his lifetime — was nominated for best rap album at theGrammy Awardsin February.
Curry used Twitter to offer support to Hussle before local news station confirmed his death a short time later.
“God please cover and restore @NipseyHussle right now!!!” Curry wrote.
Other stars around the league and beyond took to social media to pay tribute to the rapper.
“Maaaan this got me sick,” wrote Houston Rockets playerChris Paul. “Prayers to @LaurenLondon and the rest of the family.”
Atlanta Hawks player Trae Young wrote: “Gone but his Legacy will Live on FOREVER.”
As of Monday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department has not yet arrested a suspect in the shooting, which also injured two other people.
“Right around 3:20 this afternoon, there was a shooting that occurred at the 3400 block of West Slauson Avenue,” a public information officerwith the LAPD told PEOPLE. “Three individuals, three victims were shot. They were taken to a local hospital. One of those victims died at the local hospital, the other two are listed in stable condition.”
The officer said that the South Bureau Homicide team is investigating the incident.
Just hours before the shooting, Hussletweeted, “Having strong enemies is a blessing.”
source: people.com
