|
A 12-person jury in Los Angeles County
convicted Eric Ronald Holder Jr., 32, in the killing of Hussle
outside a clothing store the rapper owned in south Los Angeles.
Prosecutors said Holder shot Hussle at least 10 times when the
pair had a chance meeting on a Sunday afternoon in the
neighborhood where they both grew up. After a brief
conversation, Holder left and returned about 10 minutes later
and opened fire, killing Hussle and wounding two bystanders.
Public defender Aaron Jansen acknowledged that Holder killed
Hussle but argued that he should not be convicted of
first-degree murder because the attack was not pre-meditated.
Jansen said Holder acted in "the heat of passion" after Hussle
told him there were rumors of him "snitching" to police, which
he considered a serious offense. Holder did not testify during
the trial.
Hussle, who was 33 when he died, had publicly acknowledged that
he joined a gang as a teenager. He later became an activist and
entrepreneur as he found success with rap music and collaborated
with artists including Snoop Dogg and Drake.
In 2020, Hussle won two posthumous Grammy Awards including one
for "Racks in the Middle," released a few weeks before his death
and featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy.
Deputy District Attorney John McKinney said he hoped the verdict
provided "some resounding peace" to Hussle's family and fans and
that the rapper's life would inspire others "to get to a place
where dreams are made."
Holder also was convicted of attempted voluntary manslaughter
for wounding two bystanders in the incident.
Holder could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing
was set for Sept. 15.
(Reporting by Lisa RichwineEditing by Aurora Ellis, Richard
Chang and David Gregorio)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
