Deputies on Thursday were searching for the gunman who shot and killed a man inside a Palmdale McDonald's in front of customers eating lunch, officials said.
The shooting was reported about 12:37 p.m. at the fast-food restaurant at 47th Street and East S Avenue, LA County Sheriff's Department officials said.
The gunman came inside and shot directly at the victim, who was sitting at a table, from behind, LA Sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.
"There was no altercation that they saw. This guy just walked in through one door, shot him and walked out another door," Corina said. "There were patrons (inside) at the time. He didn't shoot anyone else. He just walked up to this individual, shot him and left. Looked like it was something personal."
The man ran away from the scene. No arrests had been made as of Thursday night.
The victim was identified by his sister and his girlfriend as 38-year-old Habib Ameer Zekajj, also known as rap artist Big Paybacc.
"We're moving in together, we just talked to landlord day before," girlfriend Jessica Jefferson said. "That's why all his belongings are in the back of the truck. We were supposed to be moving in together."
Jefferson said her boyfriend had no enemies and working hard toward a healthy lifestyle.
"He just turned diabetic," Jefferson said. "He came here, he was doing so good, losing so much weight. He came up here to get a salad, you know?"
A witness said she was in the doorway and saw the shooting.
"Suddenly everybody started screaming," the woman said.
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Parents told NBC4 middle and high school students usually come to that McDonald's after school, and were concerned about their safety had the shooting happened a few hours later.
Mekahlo Medina and Beverly White contributed to this report.
