Three years after the fatal 2019 shooting of Nipsey Hussle, Eric Holder Jr. has been convicted of first-degree murder, AP reported. The unanimous verdict was announced on July 6 in a Los Angeles County courtroom.
The jury also found Holder Jr. guilty of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter due to two bystanders who were hit by gunfire in the strip mall shooting. During his closing argument, LA Deputy District Attorney John McKinney advocated for the late rapper, noting that he “wanted to change the neighbourhood” before his untimely death.
According to AP, Holder Jr. and Hussle grew up knowing each other as members of the same South LA street gang. The “overwhelming” evidence in the former’s murder trial – which included eyewitnesses and surveillance footage – contributed to his conviction. Holder Jr. could face the maximum of life in prison upon his sentencing scheduled for Sept. 15.
Hussle died on March 31, 2019, at the age of 33 after being shot outside of his LA clothing store, Marathon Clothing. He left behind two children, his daughter, Emani, and son, Kross, and longtime girlfriend Lauren London.
The beloved rapper was memorialised on April 11, 2019, at the then-Staples Center, where friends, family, and roughly 21,000 fans gathered to honor his life and legacy. Since then, Hussle’s industry peers have continued to pay homage to him through tributes and by living by his many quotes.
