Eric R. Holder Jr. has been found guilty of first degree murder in the fatal shooting of rapper Nipsey Hussle.

In 2019, the Grammy-nominated rapper was murdered at the age of 33 outside of his clothing store in Los Angeles, "The Marathon." Throughout the three-year-long trial, eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage proved Holder responsible, leading to debate on whether or not the killing was premeditated.

The prosecution had initially argued two counts of attempted murder. According to CBS, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney told jurors,

"I submit to you that the motive for killing Nipsey Hussle had little to do with the conversation they had…There's pre-existing jealousy."

Holder and Hussle shared a history of growing up in the same South LA gang. On the night of the rapper’s death, they engaged in a nine-minute conversation where Holder was publicly accused of being a “snitch.” Hussle was then shot ten to eleven times, before being kicked repeatedly in the head. McKinney notes that these injuries were the result of something “personal,” and not in a “heat of passion” as the defense argued.

The Los Angeles jury’s deliberation lasted for six hours before they concluded the murder was premeditated. CBS describes the harrowing reaction of Holder as the trial concluded;

“Eric Holder Jr. showed no emotion when the verdict was read.”

McKinney gave a statement following the trial, saying,

“Obviously nothing that happened here today can heal the wound, nothing that happened here today can restore Mr. Asghedom to this world, but we hope that there is some resounding peace in the fact that his killer will be in prison likely for the rest of his life,”

Holder's sentencing is scheduled for September 16.