Chris Brown's Tattoo Artist Trigz Shot Dead

A disrespectful remark caused the fist fight that led to the fatal shooting of famed LA tattoo artist Trigz in Los Angeles, claims the manager of the store where the lethal brawl broke out.

According to the manager, Trigz, whose real name is Michael Christopher Pebley, was minding his own business in the Black Derby Smoke Shop on Thursday afternoon when an apparent stranger upset him with a pointed remark leaving the store.

Pebley, who was sitting talking to the store owner, was angered and approached the man, 'getting in his face', which sparked a 30 second fight inside, which eventually spilled onto the sidewalk and ended with Pebley being fatally shot outside the neighboring Tattoo & Body Piercing parlor.

'The suspect was already shopping inside when Pebley walked in and sat down to talk to the owner,' said manager, James Mayen, who has also watched the security footage of the fight from Thursday.

'The suspect is making his way out of the store when he turns to Pebley and says something, which makes Pebley leave his chair and walk straight over to him.

'He gets in his face and the two begin arguing, which quickly descends into a huge fight inside, which then spills outside.'

The famed tattoo artist worked with Chris Brown, Kylie Jenner's reported boyfriend Tyga as well as Amber Rose's soon-to-be-ex Wiz Khalifa and musician Travis Barker.

'He was a really good guy,' said friend Desirae Howell to NBC Los Angeles.. 'He was a family guy. He was very intelligent.'

Just after news broke of the murder, which is believed to have taken place at 5:50 pm, Brown tweeted, 'RIP homie. S*** it crazy!'

Only hours after the fatal shooting, friends, family and mourners put together a makeshift memorial for Pebley outside the shop. 

The artist and an unidentified man were believed to have had a verbal altercation before the gun was fired.

Trigz was a famed tattoo and graffiti artist, actor and model. He also became part of an exclusive worldwide group of artists called The Seventh Letter, fellow member and friend Willie T told Eyewitness News.