Beloved Hip Hop Artist Nipsey Hussle's Suspected Killer Indicted On Murder Charges

Two months after the tragic killing of Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle, his alleged killer has been indicted on murder charges.

Eric Holder was indicted by a grand jury on May 9 on one count of murder, two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday.

“The indictment, which was unsealed today, also includes allegations that Holder personally used a handgun and caused great bodily injury and death,” the office stated.

Holder pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the charges. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on June 18.

He’s accused of fatally shooting the rapper, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, on March 31, outside the rapper’s clothing store in South Los Angeles. Two other men were wounded in the attack.

Nipsey Hussle, seen here at The Grammy's, was shot and killed March 31, 2019 while standing outside his south Los Angeles clothing store. Photo: Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Police Department has cited a personal dispute as a possible motive for the shooting. One of the memorials dedicated to the slain artist was also marred by violence: One person was killed and three others injured after shots rang out at a vigil.

Hussle, who was 33, left behind two children, a son with girlfriend Lauren London and a daughter from a previous relationship, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The attorney’s office noted that Holder fled the scene and was arrested after a 48 hour manhunt. His bail has been set at $6.53 million.

If convicted of the charges, Holder faces a possible life behind bars.

Hussle was a beloved hip hop artist who was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album after his debut album “Victory Lap,” which was released in 2018. He was known for running several businesses in Southern Los Angeles, an area he grew up in and was known for giving back to.

“The man was instrumental in a lot of stuff,” community activist Malik Spellman told The Los Angeles Times at the time of his tragic death. “Fighting gentrification, trying to stop gang violence.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called the death of the rapper an “awful tragedy” in a statement on Twitter.