'We lost everything': Nipsey Hussle's friend reacts as killer Eric Holder gets life for rapper's murder
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Eric Holder Jr, who murdered rapper Nipsey Hussle in 2019 has been sentenced to 60 years to life in prison. The man whose sentence was heard on Wednesday, February 22, shot and killed Hussle outside the clothing store he founded in Los Angeles.
Holder was convicted for the murder of Hussle and also charged with the attempted murder of two other men who were bystanders and got wounded during the horrifying shooting when he let loose a "hail of bullets." While his sentence was read, the 33-year-old killer, who wore a jail-issued orange suit, maintained a blank stare throughout the entire court proceeding, reported the Daily Mail.
RELATED ARTICLES
Nipsey Hussle's last words reportedly prompted killer to fire more bullets at him
'One man's action, messed up a whole community'
Hussle's close friend Herman Douglas who was with the rapper at the time of his death said that his loss has impacted the South LA community that he had been helping to build up for a long time. On Wednesday, Douglas told the court, "Our community right now, we lost everything, everything we worked for. One man's mistake, one man's action, messed up a whole community."
In March 2019, Hussle was shot 11 times from "bottom of his feet to the top of his head" and the incident took place after an altercation between Hussle and Holder, as there were rumors that the killer had been acting as the informant for authorities, according to the Daily Mail.
The Rolling 60s gang member was shot dead when Holder opened fire toward him. With much evidence against the gunman, his attorney Aaron Jansen who has not denied him being the shooter, has requested the jurors to convict him with a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The lawyer then stated that a popular figure like Hussle publicly accused Holder of being a "snitch" which instilled in him a "heat of passion."
While thanking Superior Court Judge H Clay Jacke II for their effort in getting justice for Hussle, Douglas demanded to learn the reason behind Holder's attack against the rapper over rumors. "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?" said Douglas.
'They called him Neighborhood Nip'
At the court, Douglas talked about the rapper's Marathon store located in a Los Angeles strip mall has been closed since Hussle's death as owners of the stores surrounding the place are left unemployed, as Hussle no longer supports them.
Jansen argued that Holder, 19, suffered severe mental illness as he read a letter revealing Holder's schizophrenic condition diagnosis at the age of 19. According to the judge, the sentence was handed down after his mental health condition and the grieving family of Hussle. "I am very mindful of what was presented as to Mr. Holder's mental health. I am also mindful of the devastation caused to the victims and their families. I believe this sentence balances the two," the judge said. Before the fatal shooting, Hussle released his album which was a major-label debut earning him a Grammy nomination.
Being a beloved person in the South LA area, Hussle never shifted from his place even after he rose to fame, in fact, he opened businesses and bought other properties. During the trial, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney stated in his closing argument that Hussle "wanted to change the neighborhood. He kept the same friends. And the neighborhood loved him. They called him Neighborhood Nip."