LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday sentenced the man convicted of the fatal shooting of Nipsey Hussle. to 60 years to life in prison after Wills heard about the massive cost of killing a hip-hop star and neighborhood leader, and a life of mental illness, abuse, and struggle for the man who shot him.
Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jack II delivered the sentence to Eric R. Holder Jr., 33, who was convicted of the 2019 first-degree murder of the 33-year-old Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist out of clothes. Founded Hussle Store, Marathonin the South Los Angeles neighborhood where the two men grew up in very similar circumstances.
“I am fully aware of what has been presented in respect of Mr. Holder’s mental health,” said Jack. I am also aware of the devastation of the victims and their families. I think this sentence balances the two.”
After the month-long trial, jurors in July also convicted Holder of two counts of attempted premeditated murder and two counts of a shooting attack with a firearm that injured two other men who survived at the scene.
Jack sentenced Holder to 25 years in prison for murder, another 25 years for enhanced sentence with a firearm, and 10 for assault with a firearm. He made many other additions to the provisions, and commanded that the others should work concurrently. He also gave Holder credit for the nearly four years he has spent since the shooting.
Holder, dressed in an orange prison uniform, stared straight ahead throughout the proceedings and did not react when the verdict was read, speaking only to let the judge know he understood the circumstances when asked.
In a pre-sentencing effect statement, Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, a close friend of Hussle’s who had stood with him when he was murdered and testified during the trial, told the judge that the killing was a huge loss for him. personally and for the South Los Angeles community where Hussle was a pioneer and source of inspiration.
“Nipsey was my friend, he was like a son, he was like a father,” said Douglas, who removed his black cowboy hat as he entered the courtroom and wore a sweatshirt with Hussle’s picture on the front. “Our society has now lost everything and everything we worked for. One man’s mistake, one man’s action, it has blighted the whole community.”
The Hussle store and the surrounding businesses he owns and support have closed, Douglas said, meaning “the Homies have nothing to do.”
Douglas told the judge, “I don’t care what you give this guy. It’s not about the time. I just want to know why. The world wants to know why. Why would someone do that?”
Actor Lorraine London, who was Hussle’s partner and mother of his two young children, did not attend any part of the trial, nor did any of his relatives, none of whom make similar impact statements.
Jansen requested a sentence of less than 25 years to life that would allow some opportunity for release and rehabilitation, and detailed a childhood of physical abuse and poverty for Holder.
By reaching adulthood, Janssen said Holder experienced a “terrible descent into mental illness” that led to “years of torment and struggle” with problems including painful auditory hallucinations that resisted all attempts at treatment.
He showed pictures of a head injury Hamel suffered from other prisoners during the trial, saying that Hussle’s killer had been targeted and that his life behind bars “would be brutal. It would be short. He had already received numerous death threats.”
Janssen also read a letter from Holder’s father, Eric Holder Sr., apologizing to Hussle’s family and the other victims.
“I know there are not enough words to fill the emptiness, pain and deep sadness they are feeling,” the letter read. “I ask myself every day if I’m doing the best I can to help Eric Jr. stabilize his mental health.”
Hussle, whose legal name is Ermias Asghedom, and Holder They have known each other for years growing up as members From the 1960s in South Los Angeles. Both of them were aspiring rappers. But Holder did not find the same success as Hussle, who would become a local hero and national figure.
A year after his death, he was mourned at a memorial in the square then known as Staples Center, and celebrated at the Grammy Awards. which included DJ Khaled and John Legend.
The evidence against Holder was so overwhelming—from eyewitnesses to security cameras from local businesses that captured his arrival, shooting, and departure—Jansen admitted during the trial that he shot Hassell, and asked the jury to convict him of first-degree murder. But the jury took only six hours to deliberate before returning with a verdict of first-degree murder.
As Holder was being carried out of the courthouse Wednesday, Douglas sang “Hit the Road Jack” towards him. Jack shouted “Get out!” The deputies led Douglas out.
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Follow AP Entertainment writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
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