LOS ANGELES _ Hundreds of people who had gathered Monday night to remember Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle fled the area in droves after inaccurate reports of shots fired in the area.
Several police officers worked to control the frightened crowd and track down more information about what had prompted the commotion.
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said no shots were fired. A Los Angeles Fire Department official said they transported at least 10 people to hospitals, including two patients in critical condition. The majority of the patients suffered injuries related to being trampled when the crowd rushed away.
The LAPD didn't immediately know why the stampede had occurred.
"Our people are on scene making every effort 2 protect everyone in attendance at the Nipsey Hussle vigil," LAPD Chief Michel Moore said on Twitter. "Reports of shots fired at the vigil do not appear to be accurate. We do have injured in the chaos and are attempting to restore order."
He added: "Our appreciation to those from our community actively working with members at the vigil to quell violence. Their work is vital."
Reporters in the area said on social media that authorities had said at least six people were stabbed, which is thought to have caused the chaos.
A Los Angeles Times reporter at the scene was trampled when the crowd ran, and she saw at least one person with some type of wound.
Candles left in memory of Hussle _ who was shot and killed in broad daylight outside one of his stores in South Los Angeles in a burst of gunfire that left two other people wounded _ were crushed as people fled the area.
Musician DeAndre Harvey said he was at the memorial and said it had been a peaceful event, with fans and friends passing around a megaphone and sharing stories about Hussle.
Harvey said a fight broke out, causing liquor bottles and candles to break, which caused some people in the crowd to think there was a shooting.
Panic ensued after some people started yelling, "They're shooting," Harvey said. Some of the people attending the memorial came from other neighborhoods and cities, and were probably nervous about coming to the area, he said.
"I don't know who was fighting," Harvey said. "I didn't actually see the punches, but you just saw arms rolling and glass breaking and everybody running."
