Eric R. Holder Jr., who was accused of fatally shooting Nipsey Hussle outside of his clothing store in 2019, was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday, Complex reports. Holder now faces life in prison, though a sentencing date hasn’t been set yet.

Holder, who was determined a suspect shortly after the shooting, was seen talking to the late rapper before the fatal incident and is believed to have returned to the parking lot after their conversation.

 

The 32-year-old was initially indicted on one count of murder, two counts each of attempted murder, assault with a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He was accused of carrying out the shooting after he was allegedly deemed a “snitch.”

Holder’s legal team denies that the murder was premeditated, arguing that it was the result of the “heat of passion.”

 

James Queally of the Los Angeles Times, who was present when the jury’s decision was announced, said that Holder’s reaction was not visible or audible. He shared on Twitter that the “verdict means he will face an indeterminate sentence that could lean towards life, though he will eventually be eligible for parole under California’s ‘elder parole’ law.”

Queally also noted that Herman Douglas, a close friend of Nipsey’s, was present. Douglas was an important witness in the trial and, upon hearing the jury’s decision, he became emotional and was comforted by community activist Najee Ali.

“We got justice for Nipsey, thanks to you,” Ali said, according to Queally.

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