Nipsey Hussle's killer sentenced

The murderer of Nipsey Hussle was given a 60-year prison term. Judge H. Clay Jacke of the Los Angeles County Superior Court handed down Eric Holder Jr.'s sentence on Wednesday (22.02.23), following the rapper's murder outside of his apparel store in Los Angeles in March 2019.

The Crips gang member received a 25 years to life sentence for killing Nipsey, plus an additional 25 years to life sentence enhancement because he had used a gun. The defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder, one count of firearm possession, and two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter last July.Holder was also given an additional 10 years in prison for the shooting deaths of Sharmi Villnueva, 44, and Kerry Latham, 56, who were both present during the fatal attack on the rapper, who was 33 at the time. Authorities reported that a man approached the rapper and two other people and fired "several" shots before Nipsey died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Prosecutor John McKinney described the musician's murder as "premeditated and deliberate" and said he had been "shot from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head." He said that the rapper had called fellow gang member Holder a "snitch" and that this led to the attack.

Just before firing, he added Holder told Nipsey: “You’re through,” and when the first shot hit him, the Grammy-winning rapper is said to have shouted: “You got me.”

In his opening statement, Holder’s defense attorney Aaron Jansen admitted his client shot the rapper - whose real name was Airmiess Joseph Asghedom - telling the judge and jury: “Eric Holder shot and killed Nipsey Hussle.”

But he said it was a crime committed “in the heat of passion.”

Holder grew up in a tough area of south Los Angeles where he and his victim were recruited by the Rollin’ 60s gang, also known as the Neighbourhood Crips.