Eric R. Holder Jr., the man who was found guilty of killing rapper Nipsey Hussle in 2019, was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison by a judge in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The sentencing came after a month-long trial and a delay in the proceedings to allow for arguments from Holder’s defense attorney, Aaron Jansen, to reduce his conviction to manslaughter or second-degree murder. However, the judge rejected those arguments in December.
During the trial, the jury found Holder guilty of first-degree murder, as well as two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a firearm. The shooting, which took place outside Hussle’s clothing store, the Marathon, in south Los Angeles, also hit two other men who survived. Holder, who grew up in the same neighborhood as Hussle, was not eligible for the death penalty.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge heard from one of Hussle’s friends and a letter from Holder’s father. Holder, dressed in an orange jail outfit, remained silent throughout the proceedings and showed no reaction when the sentence was read.
Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, and Holder had known each other for years, as they grew up together as members of the Rollin’ 60s in south LA. Although both were aspiring rappers, Hussle achieved greater success and became a local hero and national celebrity.
Hussle’s close friend, Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, who was with him at the time of the shooting, testified during the trial and expressed his grief at the loss of his friend and the impact on the south Los Angeles community. “One man’s mistake – one man’s action – messed up a whole community,” Douglas said. “I don’t care what you give this guy. It ain’t about the time. I just want to know why. The world wants to know why. Why someone would do that?”
The evidence against Holder was overwhelming, with eyewitnesses and surveillance cameras from local businesses capturing his arrival, the shooting, and his departure. Holder’s defense attorney conceded during the trial that he had shot Hussle but argued that the circumstances of the shooting merited a lesser verdict of voluntary manslaughter. The jury, however, returned a first-degree murder verdict after six hours of deliberation.
Actor Lauren London, who was Hussle’s partner and mother of his two young children, did not attend the trial, nor did any of his relatives. None are expected to give victim impact statements at the hearing.
In conclusion, Eric R. Holder Jr. was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison for the murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle. Although both men grew up in the same neighborhood and were aspiring rappers, Hussle achieved greater success and became a local hero and national celebrity. Hussle’s close friend expressed his grief at the loss of his friend and the impact on the south Los Angeles community. The evidence against Holder was overwhelming, and despite arguments from his defense attorney, the jury returned a first-degree murder verdict.
Anoop Sharma has a passion for writing on trending topics such as entertainment, Society, Customer care information, and solutions for students. His motive is to provide correct information to his readers. With a degree in Information technology and years of experience, Anoop brings a unique perspective to every story, delivering accurate and thought-provoking content. When not writing, Puchchu loves to explore new cultures and cuisines.
