Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II has sentenced Eric R. Holder Jr., the man convicted of killing Nipsey Hussle, to 60 years in prison.
“I am very mindful of what was presented as to Mr. Holder’s mental health,” Jacke III told the court on Wednesday.
“I am also mindful of the devastation caused to the victims and their families. I believe this sentence balances the two.”
Holder Jr.’s prison sentence stems back to an incident that occurred nearly four years ago. On March 31, 2019, Airmiess “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom was standing in the parking lot near his place of business, Marathon Clothing Store. Testimony presented in trial suggests that Eric Holder Jr. approached Nipsey Hussle and others near the store and an argument ensued. Holder Jr. was accused of cooperating with law enforcement in an unrelated matter. At approximately 3:18 p.m. on March 31, 2019, Holder Jr. reportedly approached the same group outside of the store with a gun and proceeded to fire multiple shots. Nipsey Hussle and two others were hit and transported to the hospital while Holder Jr. fled the scene. By 3:55 p.m., Nipsey Hussle had been pronounced dead at the age of 33. Two days later, Holder Jr. was apprehended and taken into custody.
Holder Jr. was charged with the murder of the late artist and entrepreneur, but several matters delayed his trial until June 2022. After a monthlong trial, he was convicted of the following charges: first-degree murder, two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a firearm. On February 22, 2023, Jacke II sentenced him to 10 years in prison for assault with a firearm, 25 years in prison for a firearm sentencing enhancement and 25 years to life for the murder of Nipsey Hussle.
“Nipsey was my friend, he was like a son, he was like a dad,” Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, who was present at the time of the murder, said.
“Our community right now, we lost everything, everything we worked for. One man’s mistake, one man’s action, messed up a whole community.”
