Zerail Dijon Rivera, the 21-year-old Long Beach rapper known as Indian Red Boy, was killed on July 8, 2021, when a gunman walked up to his parked car in Hawthorne, California, and shot him while he was livestreaming on Instagram. Hawthorne police called the attack targeted. No arrests have been publicly announced.
What Happened on July 8, 2021
At about 4:10 p.m., Hawthorne police received reports of a shooting in the 14100 block of Chadron Avenue.1Hawthorne Police Department. Homicide – Chadron Ave Officers found Rivera slumped in the front seat of a vehicle parked in a carport at the rear of a gated apartment complex. He had been struck by multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Rescue.2Daily Breeze. Man Shot, Killed Inside Car at Rear of Hawthorne Apartment Complex
Lt. Ti Goetz of the Hawthorne Police Department described the killing as a “walk-up shooting” and said Rivera “appears to have been targeted.”3Yahoo Entertainment. Rapper Ambushed, Shot Multiple Times The gunman fled before officers arrived. Detectives began pulling area surveillance footage and working leads.2Daily Breeze. Man Shot, Killed Inside Car at Rear of Hawthorne Apartment Complex
The Shooting Happened on Instagram Live
Rivera was in the middle of an Instagram Live session from inside his car, chatting with a social media personality known as Kapone (@kapaalxt8), when the gunfire started.4Revolt. California Rapper Indian Red Boy Shot and Killed While on IG Live The stream showed him laughing and smiling, then turning sharply with a look of shock as shots rang out, glass shattered, and smoke filled the vehicle.5Oxygen. Indian Red Boy’s Murder Captured on Instagram Live
In the last moments on the broadcast, Rivera was bleeding from his head and nose and gasping for air, appearing to mouth the word “help” to his friend on the call.5Oxygen. Indian Red Boy’s Murder Captured on Instagram Live The video spread quickly across social media.6People. LA Rapper Murdered While Filming Himself on Instagram Live
Why Investigators Looked at the Nipsey Hussle Mural
In the days after the killing, attention turned to the vandalism of a street mural honoring Nipsey Hussle, the rapper shot and killed in 2019 outside his South Los Angeles clothing store. The mural, near Slauson and Crenshaw boulevards, had been defaced twice within a 24-hour window.7Digital Music News. Nipsey Hussle Mural Vandalized Social media users circulated claims that Rivera was tied to the defacement and had posted videos disrespecting rival neighborhoods.
Lt. Goetz confirmed the mural theory was “one of the leads we’re looking into,” saying investigators were examining the possibility “that this was retaliation for one of his fellow gang members defacing the mural.”8Yahoo News. Nipsey Hussle Dis Eyed as Possible Motive He also said police were “exploring all the different avenues” and had not settled on one theory. Other reporting noted there was “nothing that points toward him ever touching the mural” himself, suggesting any link ran through an associate rather than Rivera.9Revolt. The Game Claims His Disrespecting Nipsey Hussle Lyric Wasn’t About Indian Red Boy
Hawthorne police identified Rivera as a gang member.10Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Los Angeles Rapper Shot to Death While Filming Self on Instagram Live Reports indicated he was affiliated with the Bloods, though that was never officially confirmed.11XXL Magazine. The Game Pays for Indian Red Boy’s Funeral Nipsey Hussle was a known member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, a rival set, which gave the retaliation theory its underlying logic.
The Game’s Freestyle and Funeral Donation
Four days after the shooting, on July 12, 2021, rapper The Game performed a freestyle on Instagram Live that included the lines: “Disrespecting Nip, the type of shit you niggas get killed for / We not gon’ stand for the disrespect / Get this .45 Bell pressed against your neck.”12Revolt. 13Complex. The Game Addresses Disrespecting Nipsey Hussle Freestyle, Indian Red Boy
He then donated to the GoFundMe set up under Rivera’s legal name to cover funeral costs. Outlets reported the figure as either $5,000 or $10,000.14Revolt. The Game Helps Pay for Indian Red Boy’s Funeral13Complex. The Game Addresses Disrespecting Nipsey Hussle Freestyle, Indian Red Boy Journalist Raquel Harper reported that The Game and music manager Wack 100 together covered about 60 percent of the funeral expenses, helping the campaign hit its $10,000 goal by July 14, 2021. On Instagram, The Game wrote: “Holla’d at the family & got it done as promised with my family… Don’t talk about it, be about it.”11XXL Magazine. The Game Pays for Indian Red Boy’s Funeral
Who Zerail Rivera Was
Rivera grew up in Long Beach and attended Jordan High School, where he played basketball. Family and friends described him as outgoing and a joker who collected shoes, played video games, and did backflips.15CSULA University Times. Rapper’s Family Mourns His Death After his mother, Shawana Rivera, died, he took on a mentoring role for his four younger brothers. His interest in music began during time at a local recording studio with friends, and he was in the early stages of a rap career when he was killed. He had more than 16,000 Instagram followers at the time of his death.16The Sun. Rapper Indian Red Boy Dead, Killed
Where the Investigation Stands
No arrests have been publicly announced in connection with Rivera’s killing, and the Hawthorne Police Department has not named any suspects or persons of interest in the available reporting.5Oxygen. Indian Red Boy’s Murder Captured on Instagram Live Anyone with information has been asked to contact Hawthorne investigators at 310-349-2727.1Hawthorne Police Department. Homicide – Chadron Ave