1 dead, 2 injured in shooting outside Nipsey Hussle's clothing store

March 31 (UPI) -- One person was killed and two others were injured following a shooting Sunday outside of Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle's clothing store in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers responded to a shooting call at about 3:25 p.m. and discover three victims suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of The Marathon Clothing Company in the 3400 block of West Slauson Avenue.

Two men were transported to a local hospital where one of them was pronounced dead, Ramirez told reporters during a media briefing.

The Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's Crisis Response Team confirmed that the deceased was Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Ashgedom.

"Today we lost a great musician, Nipsey Hussle," the crisis response team said in a tweet, adding "Our prayers are with them and all those who knew and loved Nipsey Hussle."

Ramirez, however, would not confirm for reporters if Hussle was killed in the shootout, saying, "We cannot confirm that. That would be up to the coroner's office."

LAPD Commissioner Steve Soboroff said Sunday that he was scheduled to meet Monday with Hussle, Police chief Micael Moore and Jay-Z's company Roc Nation to discuss ways to stop gang violence.

"I am very sad," he said.

Prior to the shooting, Hussle had twitted, "Having strong enemies is a blessing."

Police were looking for a black male suspect, Ramirez said, adding that police were still investigating if he had fled the scene on foot or by vehicle.

"All we know is that we have one male black [suspect] at this time," he said.

The second man taken to the hospital was receiving medical attention, he said.

The area was under lockdown late Sunday afternoon as the LAPD's south bureau homicide division was beginning to conduct its investigation that Ramirez said would be "lengthy."

Police will be canvassing the area, speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation, he said.

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us," Ramirez said.

Sunday's shooting is the latest homicide in the city that has been dealing with a surge of violent crimes.

In the past seven days, there have been 26 people shot and 10 people murdered in Los Angeles, LAPD Cheif Michel Moore said in a tweet.

"That's 37 families left pick up the pieces," he said. We will work aggressively with our community to quell this senseless loss of life."