A man convicted more than three years ago of the murder of beloved Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison on Wednesday in a Los Angeles courthouse.
Eric Holder was convicted in July of first-degree murder for the March 31, 2019 murder of Hussle in the parking lot in front of the rapper’s South Los Angeles clothing store. He was 33 years old.
Holder was also convicted of two counts of attempted first degree murder after two other people were injured in the shooting.
Hussle, who was born Ermias Asghedom, grew up with Holder, and both were members of the same gang called the Rollin’ 60s.
Prosecutors argued that Holder was upset by allegations that he was an informant, an allegation that he believed was premeditated. On confronting Hussle outside his shop, he immediately opened fire.
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Hussle was hit at least 10 times. Afterward, Holder kicked him in the head and fled, District Attorney John McKinney told the jury. Photos shared during the trial showed him fleeing the scene with a semi-automatic weapon.
Holder’s attorney, Aaron Jansen, described the shooting as an attack of “intense emotions.” After speaking with Hussle, Holder didn’t have time to calm down when he returned to the store with a gun, he argued. Jansen further called the charges ‘excessive.’
Hussle, whose debut studio album earned him a Grammy nomination months before his death, was also a father of two, a popular community leader, and an anti-gun violence advocate.
Last year, Hussle was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his 37th birthday.
The verdict was postponed several times, most recently on November 3rd.
