OREANDA-NEWS. Grammy Award nominee, 33-years-old rapper Ermias Asghad, known by the pseudonym Nipsey Hussle, was killed in a shoot-out in Los Angeles on March 31. A criminal suspect wounded another two men and managed to escape. Los Angeles police reports that the rapper was shot several times. Then death of Nipsey Hussle was confirmed by a Los Angeles city official.

Nipsey Hussle was an artist who was formerly associated with Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, one of the biggest gangs of Los Angeles (in an interview in 2010, he confirmed that he was connected with it), but recently he has been involved in activities aimed at the improvement of society. He joined a group of artists who created Destination Crenshaw, an open-air museum dedicated to the history of African-American artistic culture. Asghad was also known for his investments in an educational center in Los Angeles, which he called the bridge between Silicon Valley and the urban ghetto. The day after the incident, the artist planned to meet the representatives of the police for discussing the struggle against crimes in the streets.

Few hours before death, the rapper wrote on Twitter: “Having strong enemies is a blessing”.

The mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti said: “Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy. L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence”. Many celebrities have presented their condolences. Among them are singer Rihanna, singer and producer Pharrell Williams, singer Bruno Mars, basketball player LeBron James.