The grand opening of Marathon Burger in downtown Long Beach, a much-anticipated celebration honoring the legacy of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, was marred by tragedy on Sunday, March 1, 2026, when gunfire erupted just steps away from the festivities. The shooting, which unfolded around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Pine Avenue and Broadway, left one man dead and two others wounded, casting a somber shadow over an event meant to unite the community and celebrate Hussle’s enduring impact.
According to multiple reports, including KTLA and Pasadena Star-News, officers with the Long Beach Police Department responded to urgent calls of shots fired in the heart of the city’s bustling downtown corridor. The incident occurred about half a block south of the new Marathon Burger location at 245 Pine Ave, where hundreds had gathered for the grand opening. The event had drawn a star-studded crowd, including Snoop Dogg, YG, radio host Big Boy, and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, all of whom had left the scene before the violence broke out.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos and panic as the sound of gunfire sent the assembled crowd running for cover. Tyerae Bailey, who was among the 50 to 60 people waiting in line outside the restaurant, told KTLA, “It was literally chaos for like 10 or 15 seconds. I ducked behind one of the little boards you take photos at over there. I only heard one gunshot. That’s actually what made me really lock in and take cover.”
First responders from the Long Beach Fire Department arrived swiftly, rushing three adult males in their 20s to the hospital. One of the victims was in critical condition and required life-saving measures at the scene. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, that individual later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The two other victims were reported to be in stable condition, according to authorities cited by NBC4 and Los Angeles Times.
Cellphone footage and eyewitness accounts indicated that police quickly moved to secure the area, establishing a perimeter and focusing their attention on a nearby parking garage. At least two people—a man and a woman—were seen in handcuffs and placed in separate patrol cruisers, though as of Sunday evening, Long Beach police had not announced any arrests. “The motive, circumstances of the shooting, and suspect information remain under investigation,” police spokesperson Andrea Moran told reporters. The department emphasized that updates would be provided as more information became available.
Despite the violence, Marathon Burger remained open, continuing to serve customers into the night. The restaurant’s management was quick to distance the incident from the grand opening itself. In a statement provided to KTLA, a spokesperson for Marathon Burger said, “The opening was a huge success with strong community support. The incident being reported was NOT connected to our event or even within our block party. The opening itself proceeded safely and without issue. The restaurant remains open and customers are still flowing in and out.” Videos posted to the restaurant’s Instagram account showed staff serving food to a steady stream of patrons, including celebrities such as Stevie Wonder.
The grand opening was more than just a business launch—it was a celebration of Nipsey Hussle’s vision and legacy. Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was a Grammy Award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and community activist who was shot and killed outside one of his Los Angeles stores in 2019. His older brother, Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom, has since carried the torch, expanding the Marathon brand to include Marathon Burger. The Long Beach location marks the chain’s third outpost, following successful launches in Los Angeles and Venice.
“He was always talking about branding, like, ‘We need a Marathon Water, we need a Marathon Burger,’” Blacc Sam told the Los Angeles Times at the opening of the L.A. location. “This is definitely Nip’s vision and imprint. I know he would have been like, ‘Yeah, this is perfect.’” The Long Beach grand opening featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Snoop Dogg, who has been a key partner in bringing the chain to new communities. Snoop was seen not only greeting fans but also flipping burgers behind the counter—a testament to the celebratory and inclusive nature of the event before tragedy struck.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who participated in the ribbon cutting, expressed both outrage and resolve in the aftermath of the shooting. “Thousands of residents gathered peacefully in downtown today to celebrate a proud moment for our community … Let me be clear: we will not allow violence to define our downtown or undermine the progress we are making. We will not retreat from investing in safe, active public spaces,” Richardson said in a written statement shared with Pasadena Star-News.
For many in attendance, the day had been a symbol of hope and progress—a chance to honor Hussle’s memory by supporting a business that aims to give back to the community. Bennie Randall, a 60-year-old Long Beach resident, told Pasadena Star-News, “It’s supposed to be a good thing for people to come out, they’re trying to do something good for the community and jobs and all that, and then something like this happens. It’s terrible.”
As police continue to investigate, the community’s attention has turned to the broader significance of the Marathon brand. Just a day before the shooting, a new sign was unveiled at the Los Angeles intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, officially naming the area “Nipsey Hussle Square”—a testament to Hussle’s lasting influence on the city and its culture.
Bailey, reflecting on the day’s events, urged the community not to let the tragedy overshadow the positive strides made. “If you knew what Nipsey Hussle stood for and know what the brand Marathon Burgers has stood for since it’s been opened, you would hope that this would bring the community together for us to have our spot,” he told KTLA. “Let’s not let this situation discredit anything good that happened today. A lot of good happened today, but hopefully we learn from this lesson and move forward as a community.”
Marathon Burger, known for its gourmet smash burgers with a secret sauce, continues to operate in the wake of the shooting, with staff and supporters determined to uphold Hussle’s vision of community empowerment and opportunity. As the investigation unfolds, the hope among many is that the spirit of unity and progress that defined the grand opening will ultimately prevail over the violence that threatened to derail it.
For now, Long Beach—and the extended Marathon family—remains resolute, seeking answers while steadfastly refusing to let a single act of violence define a movement built on hope, legacy, and the promise of better days ahead.