The man convicted of fatally shooting Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle more than three years ago was sentenced Wednesday in a Los Angeles court to 60 years in prison.
Eric Holder was convicted of first-degree murder in July for killing Hussle in a parking lot outside the rapper’s South Los Angeles apparel store on March 31, 2019. He was 33 years old.
Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jack handed down the sentence Wednesday after hearing a friend of Hussle’s and a letter from Holder’s father. Holder, dressed in an orange prison uniform, looked straight ahead throughout the proceedings and did not react when the sentence was pronounced.
His sentencing hearing was postponed several times, including most recently to 3 November. The sentencing has been delayed somewhat so defense attorney Aaron Johnson can argue for Holder’s sentence to be reduced to second-degree murder, which the judge rejected in December.
Holder also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter after the shooting injured two other people.
Hussle, who was born Ermias Eghedom, grew up with Holder, and the two were members of the same gang, the Rollin’ 60s. Prosecutors argued that Holder was troubled by allegations that he was a snitch and that when he approached Hussle outside his shop, The Marathon, and opened fire, it was premeditated.
Hussle was hit at least 10 times. Afterwards, Holder kicked him in the head and fled, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney told jurors. In photographs shared during the trial, he is seen running away from the scene with a semi-automatic pistol.
Holder’s attorney, Aaron Jansen, described the shooting as “heated passion”. After his conversation with Hussle, Holder didn’t have time to calm down when he returned to the store with the gun, he argued. Johnson 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 well-known community leader and advocate who spoke out against gun violence.
Last year, on what would have been his 37th birthday, Hussle was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
