Nipsey Hussle funeral: Man shot dead and three injured in drive-by as mourners pay respects to rapper, police say

Hundreds gather to pay tribute to musician

A man has been shot dead at Nipsey Hussle‘s funeral, police officers in Los Angeles have claimed.

“Suspects in [a] gray Hyundai fired on the victims,” Michel Moore, police chief at the Los Angeles Police Department, said.

“We must stop this senseless violence.”

Three others were injured in the drive-by shooting, which Mr Moore claimed had happened “in the midst” of the funeral procession.

Mr Hussle, a rapper and local businessman, was killed on 31 March at his shop, The Marathon, in Los Angeles.

He had tried to use the store to empower the local community.

Stevie Wonder and Snoop Dogg were among the stars who paid tribute to the musician at a memorial service held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The rapper’s casket then embarked on a 25-mile tour of the city, drawing thousands to the streets to catch a glimpse of the recently-anointed hometown hero.

The funeral and procession were held on Thursday morning, beginning at 10am.

The shooting occurred in the same area several hours later, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Eric Holder Jr, who has been charged over Mr Hussle’s death, has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Hussle, a 33-year-old Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was an Eritrean-American father of two.

Barack Obama, the former US president, wrote a letter paying tribute to the musician, which was read out at Thursday’s memorial.

“I’ve never meet Nipsey, but I’ve heard his music through my daughters, and after his passing I had the chance to learn more about his transformation and his community work,” Mr Obama wrote.

“While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighbourhood where he grew up and only see gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope. He saw a community that even through its flaws taught him to always keep going.”

Additional reporting by agencies