Nipsey Hussle was a well-connected and well-respected Grammy-nominated rapper, a father, a community leader and a business owner. He was also a (former?) Crip, and he had associations with gangs in the LA area. On Sunday, Hussle was shot outside his store, Marathon Clothing, in South LA. Leaky LAPD sources indicate that the killer likely has a gang affiliation or connection.
Nipsey Hussle, a Grammy-nominated rapper was killed Sunday afternoon, shot in broad daylight outside his store in South Los Angeles in a burst of gunfire that left two other people wounded, police said.
Hussle, who was known as much for his work in the community as for his music, was hit multiple times about 3:20 p.m. in front of his store, the Marathon Clothing, at 3420 W. Slauson Ave., police said. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 33.
Details remain scant, but a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation said Hussle was shot by a young man who opened fire at close range and then ran to a waiting getaway car. Based on initial information, the shooter is probably associated with a gang, the source said.
At a news briefing, Los Angeles Police Lt. Chris Ramirez described the suspect only as a black male and said he was still at large. About 8:30 p.m., detectives were still interviewing witnesses and trying to recover any security video that might exist.
Late last night, the LAPD announced that they have a tentative identity for the shooter: a 29-year-old man named Eric Holder, hopefully no relation to our former Attorney General. Police believe Holder fled the scene in a 2016 Chevy Cruze, which was being driven by a female getaway driver. They believe Holder was lying in wait for Hussle.
LAPD sources tell TMZ that there are big concerns that Hussle’s murder will lead to a domino-effect of gangland revenge killings, a tit-for-tat between active gang members. TMZ also reports that Nipsey Hussle seemed to know that his life was in danger in the days leading up to his murder – he had extra security, and he told friends that he was concerned about his safety. It’s really, profoundly sad.
We have done @NipseyHussle wrong…he was sharing his purest self, his vision, and traits from his heritage with all of us: empowerment and a sense of community, something that many of us don’t have. White supremacy at its finest couldn’t have done something this terrible💔
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) April 1, 2019
Watching Nipsey inspired me to invest and own in our communities. He was a solid man who loved his woman, his family and his community. This hurts.
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 1, 2019
RIP Nipsey. I just spent Thursday with him filming a video for a beautiful new song we created with Khaled. We filmed in Inglewood, close to where he grew up. He was so gifted, so proud of his home, so invested in his community. Utterly stunned that he's gone so soon.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 1, 2019
This doesn’t make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! 💔🙏🏿
I’m so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhussle pic.twitter.com/rKZ2agxm2a— Rihanna (@rihanna) April 1, 2019
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Was really upset by this when i heard it. I guess it’s true that you can’t go home again. (That first tweet really annoys me. It repeats the “black on black violence” trope that people lean into all the time. Any violence is bad. White supremacy is bad. Anyone killed by anyone else is bad. and the fact is that most people are killed by people who look like them–black, white or purple–because that’s who is in their social and family circle.)
America is still so segregated. That fact goes unacknowledged by a lot of people.
Let’s just call it what it is. Anyone talking about black on black violence as if it differs from overall violence is a racist.
you do know pusha is black, right?
LAPD also noted this weekend that Nipsey and others were planning to meet with I believe with LA police commissioner today about stopping gang violence in his community.
Just from what I’ve read about him, he was really trying to make a difference in his community. I’m sure that put a target on his back.
He was making a difference in the community and I was so sad to hear of his passing. From what the LAPD said they are going to continue with the initiative around gang violence but this is so painful. My thoughts go out to his family and friends-this is so sad.
I knew of him but not a lot about him and the more I read about him the more I’m impressed. I love that he had a passion for giving back to his community. He walked the talk apparently. My heart goes out to his two young children and loved ones for their loss.
Holder is a fairly common name, is it not?? I don’t think that it would have occurred to me that they might be related as them both being Black does not really correlate to a shared physical resemblance but I suppose that we will find out.
It’s not just a shared last name, the former AG is named Eric Holder. My thoughts went there as well, but only for a hot second before I was like “Even if EH went crazy, his family would have put him in a very nice retreat”.
Nipsey told people that if he was murdered, it was because he was making a documentary about a quack pseudoscience “doctor” who didn’t believe in bacteria and believed that veganism could cure AIDS. Nipsey believed in this man and peddled conspiracy theories. Oh, he was also homophobic as hell and said there was a gay “agenda” and called black women a “disgrace”. But oh I guess he donated money so good for him?
Whenever someone dies, they become saints and their sins are overlooked, especially when it’s someone famous. This person (I’m not familiar with him) sounds like someone who did some positive things for his community while at the same time promoting homophobia and faux science (did a simple google search). I’m sure others on here will praise him though and overlook his more problematic ways. I have no feeling about about it either way EXCEPT another example of why we need stricter gun laws…
He didn’t just “donate” money. He was highly involved in building up his community by creating multiple business ventures where he tried to employ as many local residents as possible, by opening a community space that provided mentorship and professional development resources, and by opening a STEM center to encourage his community to look at science and technology the way most look at rap and sports. His philosophies about community support and financial responsibility were hugely influential on people who’ve followed his career for years.
I was incredibly disappointed when he made the comment he did about homosexuality and the Doctor Sebi doc was beneath him and questionable to promote.
However, a “google search” doesn’t make you an expert on a man who meant a lot of positive things for the culture and who was just brutally murdered in a shopping center he opened in hopes to bring his community with him and to help push against gentrification as the metro line is built through it. If you didn’t know much about him, why speak on it?
Honestly, this is why I’m not appreciating mainstream pop culture coverage sites covering him. If he was so distasteful to you, he’s gone. His fans and his community are allowed to hurt.
Well said, Jen. Let the mourners mourn in peace.
Thank you, Cady. Can’t feel bad for a homophobe.
Cady you are being more than disrespectful you are misrepresenting facts for attention. First, Nipsy did not make those comments about black women. A local known comedian did, Nipsy co-signed in agreement. As soon as he did amd he was called out, he apologized, stated how it was in poor taste against black women and would never mean to present black women as such. 2) You are just pulling lies about Dr. Sebi. Sebi never said veganism can cure AIDS. He practiced herbal medicine using techniques known to ancient African culture and people. He has an entire health system that relies in traits from the Kemetic diet. So it’s clear from your comments that you don’t know either figure (Sebi or Nipsy) and instead you are just spreading half truths and conjectures.
His death comes right before he planned to meet with LAPD to discuss the issue of gang violence, which makes me think that was the motive for his murder. He was a former gang member, but was working to improve education and support for young people in his neighbourhood to combat gang violence. I hope people don’t try to paint this as gang-on-gang crime. From what we know right now, it was a targeted murder committed by a gang member to suppress those who threaten their power.
I hope his family and community get the love and support they need in this difficult time and are able to continue his legacy.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nipsey-hussle-s-planned-meeting-l-police-gang-violence-go-n989676
Support for people in his community…..as long as they weren’t gay.
His legacy of being a conspiracy theorist and misogynist and homophobe?
Ur pathetic…
if u don’t respect or like someone you simply don’t comment… you Ducking idiot!!!
@ Cady, Please go away
This is probably one of the most heart breaking losses. Can’t even imagine what Lauren is going through right now she Lost her soul mate.
I also feel heartbroken for his two young children.
I’m glad they found a suspect or at least have a motive, because all the conspiracy theories twitter was throwing around not even 24 hours after his death were mad disrespectful.
RIP Nippsy
This broke my heart, all these rappers out here turn their back on their communities.
He tried to make a difference instead of running away from his roots
❤️❤️❤️❤️