Nipsey Hussle knew the man accused of killing him, said the Los Angeles Police Department.
In a press conference Tuesday morning (April 2), Los Angeles police Chief Michel Moore revealed new details about the Sunday (March 3) shooting that took the 33-year-old rapper's life.
According to Chief Moore, Nipsey and two other men were standing outside his clothing store when the suspect, identified as Eric Holder, 29, approached them. Holder is said to have had multiple conversations with the men, returning multiple times, before "purposely and repeatedly" firing at them, injuring two of the men and killing Nipsey. "Based on witness statements and the background of those that we’ve identified, we believe this to be a dispute between Mr. Hussle and Mr. Holder," Chief Moore told reporters. "We believe they were known to each other." Adding, he did not believe the shooting was gang-related.
Later, Chief Moore urged Holder, who is still on the loose, to surrender, and asked that anyone with information about his whereabouts come forward. "There should be no safe haven for this individual. He poses an imminent risk to public safety," he said.
Nipsey's great contributions to the city were also honored during Tuesday's press conference. "He was working closely with the city to help save lives and transform lives, even as he was doing that for himself,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said of Nipsey, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, who was set to meet with the LAPD to discuss stopping gun violence on Monday (April 2). "He was a tireless advocate for the young people of this city and of this world, to lift them up with the possibility of not being imprisoned by where you come from or past mistakes."
Late Monday (April 1), authorities released the name and photo of the Nipsey's suspected killer and issued a warrant for his arrest. "Eric Holder is wanted for Homicide in the shooting of Nipsey Hussle," the LAPD said in a statement shared to their Twitter. "He was last seen in a 2016 white 4 door Chevy Cruze CA license plate 7RJD742. Anyone with information related to his whereabouts or this deadly shooting is urged to contact South Bureau Homicide."
Footage of the shooting was also released, showing the suspect shooting Nipsey multiple times before kicking his body and running away towards a back alley.
The LAPD's report came shortly after mass hysteria broke out outside Nipsey's clothing store where a memorial was being held in his honor by thousands of his fans. 19 people were reportedly injured and paramedics were on the scene after a loud noise sent people scrambling, causing a stampede.
To hear more details about the shooting and Nipsey's great impact on his community and beyon, click the video above.
Photo: Getty Images