Inglewood rapper Half Ounce shot dead in Koreatown, family says

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Rapper Half Ounce shot dead in Koreatown while on the phone with his pregnant wife

Inglewood rapper Half Ounce was shot and killed in Koreatown as he was walking home Monday night, and the gunman remains on the loose. 

It happened around 11:30 p.m. in the area of 8th and New Hampshire. 

Police said they believe Half Ounce - whose legal name is Latauriisha O'Brien, 32, -  and a friend were walking in the area when a dark-colored SUV pulled up, and the passenger began firing at both men. It's unclear if Half Ounce's friend fired back. He ran away from the scene and police are trying to identify him as they continue the search for the gunman.

O'Brien was found in a planter suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the LAPD. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said at least a dozen shots were fired.

According to police, O'Brien's pregnant wife was on the phone with him when she heard gunshots and rushed to the scene.

He leaves behind three children - a 9-month-old son, a 2-year-old son, and an 8-year-old daughter.

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The suspect is described as a man around 32-years-old, who was wearing dark clothing and left the scene headed southbound in a black SUV.  

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Half Ounce had just released a single back in May and was due to another on Oct. 14, according to his social media. 

He is the third rapper to be shot in recent weeks in the Southland.PnB Rock, whose real name was Rakim Allen, was fatally shot Sept. 12 at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles. Rapper Kee Riches, whose real name was Kian Nellum, was fatally shot Sept. 24 in Compton.