One Dead in Shooting Near Marathon Burger Grand Opening

​LONG BEACH — What was intended to be a landmark celebration of community and the “Marathon” legacy turned into a scene of terror Sunday afternoon. A shooting just steps away from the grand opening of the new Marathon Burger in downtown Long Beach left one man dead and two others wounded.

​The gunfire erupted at approximately 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Pine Avenue and Broadway, a mere half-block from the ribbon-cutting festivities. Only hours earlier, hip-hop luminaries Snoop Dogg and YG, alongside Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, had gathered to christen the restaurant—a business venture spearheaded by Samiel Asghedom, known as Blacc Sam, to honor the vision of his late brother, Nipsey Hussle.

​Witnesses described a sudden eruption of at least six shots that sent hundreds of attendees diving for cover. Among them was Asghedom himself; harrowing footage captured the entrepreneur shielding himself behind a vehicle as the chaos unfolded.

​“It was literally chaos for 10 or 15 seconds,” said Tyerae Bailey, who was waiting in line at the time. “Everyone just started running.”

​The Long Beach Police Department confirmed that three men in their 20s were transported to a local hospital. While two remain in stable condition, the third victim succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have detained at least two individuals for questioning, though no formal arrests or motives have been confirmed.

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​The incident carries a grim irony, occurring nearly seven years after Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot outside his Marathon Clothing store in 2019. Despite the heavy police presence and forensic teams cordoning off the neighboring street, Asghedom reportedly insisted the restaurant remain open, refusing to let violence stifle the brand’s expansion into Long Beach.

​“The opening was a huge success with strong community support,” a spokesperson for Marathon Burger said in a statement. “The incident was not connected to our event. The Marathon continues.”

​By evening, while investigators combed the pavement for shell casings under the glow of neon signs, the line for burgers still stretched down the block—a somber but defiant testament to the resilience the brand