Eric R Holder Jr, the man convicted of murdering the rapper Nipsey Hussle, has been sentenced to 60 years to life in prison. Superior Court Judge H Clay Jacke II handed down the sentence after hearing from one of Hussle’s friends and reading a letter from Holder’s father. The sentencing was delayed as Holder’s defense attorney, Aaron Jansen, sought to reduce the conviction to manslaughter or second-degree murder, which was rejected by the judge in December.
The conviction was all but certain, with Holder being nearly guaranteed a life sentence. The evidence against him was overwhelming, including witness testimony and surveillance footage from local businesses, which captured his arrival, the shooting, and his departure. Holder’s attorney conceded during the trial that his client had indeed shot Hussle, but argued for a lesser verdict of voluntary manslaughter due to the heated circumstances.
However, the jury did not agree, returning a verdict of first-degree murder after just six hours of deliberation. The jury also convicted Holder of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a firearm for the gunfire that wounded two other men at the scene.
The sentencing was a somber affair, with Holder dressed in orange jail attire and only showing minimal reaction when the sentence was read. One of Hussle’s friends, Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, testified during the trial and told the court that the killing was a tremendous loss for both himself and the South Los Angeles community where Hussle was a business leader and an inspiration.
Eric R Holder Jr
Douglas, who was standing with Hussle when he was killed, expressed his disappointment that the community had been torn apart by Holder’s actions. “One man’s mistake, one man’s action, messed up a whole community,” he said. He also questioned why Holder had committed the crime, saying, “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?”
Hussle, whose legal name was Ermias Asghedom, was a Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist who had become a local hero and national celebrity. He and Holder, who was also an aspiring rapper, had known each other for years growing up in the Rollin’ 60s in South Los Angeles. Despite his fame, Hussle remained deeply connected to his community, and his death sent shockwaves throughout the region.
The memories of Hussle’s life and legacy continue to be celebrated, including a memorial at the then-known Staples Centre and a performance at the Grammy Awards a year after his death. The trial of his killer was a painful reminder of the devastating impact of his murder, and the sentence of 60 years to life in prison is a reflection of the seriousness of the crime.
