(AllHipHop News) Police in Tempe, Arizona said they are certain that a shooting that took place at a Nipsey Hussle concert on Friday evening was “gang related.”
Police said 14 people were shot and injured, two of them critically, when three gunmen open fired in a parking lot, at The Clubhouse, where Nipsey Hussle was performing.
According to ABC News 15, one person involved in the shooting is in custody, while two of the other gunmen are on the loose.
Police have refused to release the identity of the suspect in custody, for fear that it could hinder the investigation.
The suspect in custody faces 13 counts of aggravated assault and one count of assisting a criminal street gang, Lieutenant Mike Horn said.
According to witnesses lined up to enter The Clubhouse, an altercation between two different groups who were outside of the venue escalated into a shootout.
“Without the public’s help, these two people, the next time, may kill somebody,” Lieutenant Mike Horn told ABC News 15. “This is obviously very concerning to us on a lot of different levels and we want to do everything we can to catch these guys.”
Police are also investigating reports that security at The Clubhouse failed to patdown certain patrons during the night.
A representative for The Clubhouse published a statement, to deny that they were responsible for the shooting.
“We comply with not only Arizona liquor board but also with the Tempe police department. We administer full pat downs as well as dress codes depending on the nature of the show. However this incident occurred outside of the venue with individuals that had yet to be allowed into our establishment.”
Nipsey Hussle also released a statement, saying he wasn’t even inside the venue when the shootings took place and denounced the violence.
“Contrary to current media reports, it’s important to note that the shootings did not happen inside a venue, concert, or show in which I was booked to perform and at the time of the incident, I was in my hotel room,” Nipsey Hussle said.
“I grew up on the streets of South Central Los Angeles and have witness many tragedies in my lifetime,” Nipsey said. “I never glorify any situation like this and think it is disgusting. Any fan of my music knows that I strong oppose gun violence, and that I represent nothing but peace and progress through hard work…that anyone can overcome adversity no matter what your social status in life, which is clearly addressed on my latest release, The Marathon Continues.”
