March 31, 2019, started like any other Sunday in South LA. It was warm. The sun was out. Ermias Asghedom, the man the world knew as Nipsey Hussle, was hanging out in front of his shop, The Marathon Clothing. He wasn’t there for a video shoot or a big PR stunt. Honestly, he was just being a regular neighborhood hero, grabbing some gear for a friend who had just gotten out of prison after 20 years.
Then everything changed.
By 3:55 p.m., the "Victory Lap" rapper was gone. The shockwaves didn't just hit the music industry; they leveled a community that saw him as a blueprint for success. People still ask what actually went down that afternoon. The Nipsey Hussle cause of death wasn't just a random act of violence; it was a tragedy born from a brief, heated conversation that spiraled out of control in the very place he felt safest.
The Autopsy and Medical Reality
When the news first broke, the internet was a mess of rumors. Was it a hit? Was it a setup? The official report from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner eventually cut through the noise with cold, hard facts.
Nipsey Hussle died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
It wasn't a single shot. The autopsy revealed he was hit 11 times. Eleven. During the trial, Dr. Lawrence Nguyen, a medical examiner, explained that while 10 bullets were found, one likely hit his elbow and re-entered his body. The damage was catastrophic. One bullet pierced his lung. Another hit his liver. But the most devastating shots were the ones that struck his head and his spine.
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Basically, the "manner of death" was a homicide. The coroner noted that the death was "rapid." Even though paramedics rushed him to a local hospital, the blood loss—over a liter found in his chest cavity—meant there was almost no chance.
Who Was Eric Holder Jr.?
The man who pulled the trigger wasn't a stranger. He wasn't some shadowy figure from a rival neighborhood. Eric Holder Jr. and Nipsey actually grew up together. They were both part of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips.
They knew each other for years.
On that Sunday, Holder pulled up to the Slauson Avenue parking lot with his girlfriend. He and Nipsey had a talk. Witnesses said the vibe was actually pretty calm, at least at first. Nipsey apparently told Holder there were rumors going around that he was "snitching"—what people call "paperwork" in the streets.
Nipsey was basically giving him a heads-up. He told him he needed to take care of it because it was making him look bad.
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Holder left. He got into a car with his girlfriend, ate some fries, and then he snapped. He came back about 10 minutes later with two guns—a black semiautomatic and a silver revolver. He didn't just shoot; he unloaded.
The Trial and the "Heat of Passion" Defense
Fast forward to 2022. The trial was intense. Holder’s lawyer, Aaron Jansen, didn't try to say his client didn't do it. I mean, it was all on surveillance video. Instead, he argued it wasn't first-degree murder. He tried to claim Holder was in a "heated passion" because Nipsey had called him a snitch, which is a massive insult in their world.
The jury didn't buy it.
They saw the 10 minutes Holder took to drive away, think about it, and come back as premeditation. That’s the difference between a long stay in prison and a life sentence. In February 2023, Holder was sentenced to 60 years to life.
He’s not coming home.
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Key Facts from the Investigation:
- The Weapons: Holder used a 9mm semiautomatic and a .38-caliber revolver.
- The Kicks: After shooting Nipsey, video showed Holder kicking him in the head before running off.
- The Last Words: According to witnesses and the prosecutor, Nipsey’s last words to Holder after being shot were, "You got me."
- Other Victims: Two other men, Shermi Villanueva and Kerry Lathan, were also shot but luckily survived.
Why This Hit So Different
Nipsey wasn't just a rapper. He was a "hometown hero" who was actually buying back the block. He owned the plaza. He had a STEM center for kids called Vector 90. He was literally scheduled to meet with the LAPD the very next day to talk about stopping gang violence.
The irony is heartbreaking.
He was killed by the very thing he was trying to fix. He stayed in the "hood" because he wanted to show people you could stay and build, rather than just getting rich and leaving. He didn't have security that day because he was at home. He felt like his people would protect him.
Moving Forward: The Marathon Continues
If you’re looking for a way to honor what Nipsey stood for, it’s not just about playing his music. It’s about the mindset. He preached "financial literacy" and "neighborhood ownership" way before it was a trendy hashtag.
Here is how you can actually apply the "Marathon" philosophy today:
- Invest in your own: Whether it’s a local barbershop or a friend’s startup, keep the money circulating in the community.
- Think long-term: Nipsey famously sold his Crenshaw mixtape for $100 because he knew the value of his work. Don't settle for quick cash if it kills your long-term vision.
- Educate the youth: Support STEM programs or mentorship initiatives. Nipsey knew that the only way to change the future was to give kids better tools than the ones he had.
The Nipsey Hussle cause of death was a moment of senseless violence, but his life was a blueprint. The case is closed, and the sentencing is done, but the work he started in South LA is still going. That's the part that actually matters now.