According to prosecutors, Holder, who knew Hussle, had approached him for charges that he called a swindler.
“We told you that Mr. Holder Jr. shot Mr. Asghdom,” defense attorney Aaron Jansen said during closing arguments last week, asking the jury to consider the lesser charges. “We told you that it was voluntary murder and that he acted in the heat of passion. And we told you what heat of passion he was working on—this included a snitch in public by a man as famous as Nipsey Hussle Said to be said was involved. And we believe that is what the evidence shows.”
But prosecutor John McKinney argued that Holder was not consumed by anger that day.
“We have it systematically planned to return to that parking lot and kill. It’s not done in the heat of passion, in fact, it’s done 10 minutes after the conversation, in fact it’s the hand of Nipsey Hussle. Shaking is done,” he said.
Following the verdict, Herman “Cowboy” Douglas, a friend of Hussle, said that the late artist never called Holder a sneeze and still wanted answers as to why his friend was shot.
“It was so absurd, why?” he asked rhetorically.
Douglas said the conversation between Hussle and Holder “never heated up” on that fateful day.
Douglas, who testified during the trial, said, “I’m just sad, I miss my friend. He should have been here, he should still be here. He was the underdog who made it.”
“I don’t wish death on people,” he said of Holder. “Get us some closure, tell us why.”
Hussle collaborated with dozens of artists during his career, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, YG, Ty Doll Sign, Meek Mill, and Young Thug.
Holder was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder by a criminal for shooting Hussle, assault with a firearm, and injuring spectators during one count of possession of a firearm by a criminal.
Holder’s attorney, Aaron Jensen, said in a statement to CNN: “I am deeply disappointed by the First Degree Murder verdict.” “It was always going to be difficult given the high profile circumstances surrounding the case. We are grateful that the jury agreed with us, that the case was overcharged and that Mr. Holder, Jr. was charged with two attempted murders. was acquitted.”
Holder is to be sentenced on September 15. His lawyer said he plans to appeal.
Casey Cherry contributed to this story.