The man convicted of fatally shooting rapper Nipsey Hussle was sentenced
to 60 years to life in prison in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday,
Feb. 22.
Eric Holder was convicted of first-degree murder in
July for the March 31, 2019, killing of Hussle in a parking lot outside
the rapper’s South Los Angeles apparel shop. He was 33.
Superior
Court Judge H. Clay Jacke handed down the sentence Wednesday after
hearing from one of Hussle’s friends and listening to a letter from
Holder’s father.
Holder's sentencing hearing had been postponed
several times, including most recently Nov. 3. The sentencing has been
delayed in part so defense attorney Aaron Jansen could argue to reduce
Holder’s conviction to manslaughter or second-degree murder, which the
judge rejected in December.
Holder was also found guilty of two
counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter after two other people were
injured in the shooting.
Hussle, who was born Ermias Asghedom, had grown up with Holder, and both were members of the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s.
Prosecutors argued
that Holder was upset over accusations that he was a snitch and that it
was premeditated when he approached Hussle outside his shop, The
Marathon, and opened fire.
Hussle was struck at least 10 times.
Afterward, Holder kicked him in the head and fled, Deputy District
Attorney John McKinney told jurors.
Hussle was a father-of-two.
