The trial of Eric R. Holder Jr., the gunman who is accused of fatally shooting recording music artist Nipsey Hussle in 2019, is underway. Opening arguments proceeded the week of June 13.
Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was shot multiple times in front of his retail smart store, The Marathon Clothing, on March 31, 2019. He was declared deceased at 33 years of age. Surveillance footage captured Holder toting a firearm and aiming at Hussle. He subsequently went on the run for two days before he was arrested in Bellflower, CA.
Holder faces life in prison based on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, first-degree murder, and attempted murder of two bystanders, Shermi Villanueva and Kerry Lathan, that suffered gunshot wounds from the discharge of the firearm.
Public defender Aaron Jansen will represent Holder using the defense that the charges of premeditation were trumped, along with Holder’s mental health issues, including those incurred by “electroshock therapy” and prescription drugs. The anonymous woman that was captured on surveillance driving the vehicle containing Holder, identified by news outlets as Ms. Nicholson, is set to testify in court as a key witness for the prosecution.
Holder, now 32 years old, was 29 when the killing occurred. Both Holder and Hussle were self-proclaimed members of the Rollin’ 60s Crips hailing from the South Los Angeles neighborhood off of Crenshaw Blvd. and Slauson Ave.
Before the untimely demise of Hussle, he had gained the reputation of being an advocate for the neighborhood and Los Angeles, creating a coworking space, along with programs in STEM empowering Black and Brown people.
Just short of two months before he died, Hussle was able to bask in the glory of his hard work on the critically acclaimed album Victory Lap, in which he would be nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys. Although Hussle did not win the category, he received posthumous Grammys in the Best Rap Performance category for “Racks In The Middle” with Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy, and Best Rap/Sung Performance “Higher” with DJ Khaled. In 2021, he was nominated with Big Sean for their collaboration “Deep Reverence.”
The trial is expected to continue for at least four weeks.
