Nipsey Hussle Shooting Suspect Charged With Murder in Death of Rapper

A suspect was officially charged with fatally shooting rapper Nipsey Hussle on April 4, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Alleged shooter Eric Ronald Holder Jr. was charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, a press release obtained by In Touch revealed. He was accused of wounding two other individuals in addition to killing the rap artist.

“The criminal complaint also includes allegations that he personally used a firearm and caused great bodily injury and death,” the press release read. “He is scheduled to be arraigned today [April 4] in Department 40 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.”

Holder’s attorney, Chris Darden, has entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf and now Holder’s bail has been set at $5 million. Holder stands accused of fatally shooting Ermias Asghedom — also known as Nipsey Hussle — on March 31 outside the rapper’s clothing store in Los Angeles. He fled the scene but was later arrested on April 2 in Bellflower, California.

If convicted, Holder faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison, the press release reported. Deputy District Attorney John McKinney of the Major Crimes Division is prosecuting the case, which remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

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Hussle passed away from multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting. He was just 33. According to CBS2, LAPD Chief Michel Moore recently told reporters that Holder approached Hussle and the other men he was with several times on March 31. He claimed Holder then returned with a handgun and opened fire.

The rapper dropped his first studio album, Victory Lap, in 2018, which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammys. He is survived by his girlfriend Lauren London and his two children.

On April 2, Hussle’s sister, Samantha Smith, paid tribute to the late rapper on Instagram. “You are my heart. You are my strength, my wisdom, my joy, my balance,” she captioned a photo of herself with Hussle. “You are my superhero. Invincible to me. I feel so safe with you. I feel so covered and protected. Imperfections do not exist with you because you are flawless. I need you. I need you, please. Let me hold you again. You are my baby. To the world you are the strongest man and to me, you are the most vulnerable innocent child.”