The 29-year-old photographer had just snapped shots of Justin Bieber's white Ferrari when he was struck and killed by a passing car – a death that has spurred renewed debate over the dangers paparazzi can bring on themselves and the celebrities they chase.
The accident has prompted some stars including the teen heartthrob himself, who was not in the vehicle on Tuesday, to renew their calls for tougher laws to rein in their pursuers, though previous demands have been stymied by first amendment protections.
In a statement, Bieber said his prayers were with the photographer's family.
"Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves," Bieber said in the statement released by Island Def Jam Music Group.
Authorities have withheld the name of the photographer, who died after being hit by a Toyota Highlander on Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles, pending notification of relatives.
Much of Hollywood was abuzz about the death, including Miley Cyrus, who sent several tweets critical of some of the actions of paparazzi and lamenting that such an accident was "bound to happen".
"Hope this paparazzi/JB accident brings on some changes in '13," the actor and singer said on Twitter. "Paparazzi are dangerous! Wasn't Princess Di enough of a wake-up call?!"
Paparazzi roaming the streets of southern California have been commonplace for more than a decade as they looked to land exclusive shots that can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Industry veterans recalled incidents where paparazzi chasing celebrities have been injured, but they couldn't remember a photographer being killed while working.
"Here in the state of California, I'm surprised this hasn't happened before," said Giles Harrison, a celebrity photographer and owner of London Entertainment Group.
Harrison is familiar with the backlash against paparazzi. He and another photographer were convicted of misdemeanour false imprisonment and sentenced to jail for boxing in Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family as they sat in their Humvee in 1998.
Citing that incident and the death of Princess Diana, the state legislature passed its first anti-paparazzi measure a year later. It created hefty civil penalties that could be paid to stars whose privacy was invaded.
Six months ago, a paparazzo was charged with reckless driving in a high-speed pursuit of Bieber and with violating a separate 2010 state law that gave out tougher punishments for those who drive dangerously in pursuit of photos for commercial gain.
However, a judge last month dismissed the paparazzi law charges, saying the law was too broad.
The judge cited problems with the statute, saying it was aimed at newsgathering activities protected by the first amendment, and lawmakers should have increased penalties for reckless driving rather than target those who photograph celebrities.
City prosecutors said they would appeal against the judge's ruling.
The law was prompted by the experiences of Jennifer Aniston, who provided details to a lawmaker about being unable to drive away after she was surrounded by paparazzi on Pacific Coast Highway.
On Tuesday, a friend of Bieber was behind the wheel of the Ferrari when a California highway patrol officer pulled it over for speeding on Interstate 405, authorities said.
"This photographer evidently had been following the white Ferrari" and when it was pulled over after sundown he stopped, parked and crossed the street to snap photos, Los Angeles police detective Charles Walton said.
The photographer stood on a low freeway railing to take photographs of the traffic over a chain-link fence, authorities said.
"The CHP officer told him numerous times that it wasn't safe for him to be there and to return to his vehicle," Walton said.
There were no pavements or pedestrian crossings along the street where the photographer had parked, so the driver of the car that struck him had no reason to expect a pedestrian, Walton said of the accident.