Eric Ronald Holder Jr., has been sentenced to 60 years to life in prison for the murder of Nipsey Hussle, reports CNN.
Holder was sentenced to up to 25 years for shooting Hussle and an extra 25 years for firearms enhancements added to the charge. Additionally, he was convicted of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter for injuring two other men in the incident, for which he was sentenced to an additional 10 years. Jurors deliberated before returning with the first-degree murder verdict.
Lauren London and the rest of Hussle's family did not attend the trial or the sentencing hearing.
In a letter addressed to the court, Holder’s father apologized on his son’s behalf.
“I know there are not enough words or apologies that will fill the void, the loss, the pain, the deep sorrow the family of Ermias Asghedom (Nipsey Hussle) is experiencing. You cannot imagine the agony, the grief, the utter disbelief and devastation I feel knowing my son, Eric Jr., took another person’s life,” the letter read.
Before the sentence was handed down, Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, who was at Hussle’s side at the time of the shooting, gave an impact statement about the tremendous loss of the Grammy-nominated rapper.
“Nipsey was my friend, he was like a son, he was like a dad,” Douglas said, wearing a shirt with a picture of Hussle on the front. “Our community right now, we lost everything, everything we worked for. One man’s mistake, one man’s action, messed up a whole community.”
During the trial, the prosecution team argued that the fatal attack was premeditated, due to a previous altercation between Holder and Hussle. According to Deputy District Attorney John McKinney, there was "no doubt" Holder planned to kill Hussle, shooting him at least 10 times.
Aaron Jansen, Holder’s attorney, claimed that the murder had not been planned but rather a crime of passion. He also pleaded with the court for a lesser sentence of 25 years to life which would allow for Holder to be rehabilitated for extreme mental illness, citing how Holder grew up impoverished and was physically abused.
Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II stated that the sentence was sufficient due to the nature of the crime.
“I am very mindful of what was presented as to Mr. Holder’s mental health,” Jacke said. “I am also mindful of the devastation caused to the victims and their families. I believe this sentence balances the two.”
The impact of Hussle’s life and work still reverberates through the hip hop world and beyond. Hussle posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His last album Victory Lap, went double-platinum on its five-year anniversary last week.
Following Holder's conviction in July, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón lauded Hussle for his efforts to empower his community and his contributions as a businessman.
“Nipsey Hussle was a beloved member of our community," Gascón said in a statement at the time."His legacy will continue to inspire our work."
