Rapper Nipsey Hussle killed over 'personal dispute' with suspect

LOS ANGELES: Police on Tuesday said the man named as a suspect in the fatal shooting of rapper Nipsey Hussle allegedly killed him two days ago over a personal dispute that was not gang-related.

Police said that Eric Holder, 29, of Los Angeles, was a suspect in the shooting and that he was still at large. He fled the crime scene in a Chevy Cruze driven by an unidentified woman, Police Chief Michel Moore told reporters.

“We are currently working with the district attorney’s office to seek the necessary information to obtain a warrant for his arrest,” Moore said during a news conference on Tuesday. “We believe this to be a dispute between Mr. Hussle and Mr. Holder.”

Photos of the suspect, Eric Holder, were also being shown on different media channels.

Read More: US rapper Nipsey Hussle shot dead outside his clothing store

Hussle, 33, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was shot multiple times on Sunday afternoon outside of his clothing store, Marathon Clothing, in south Los Angeles, and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two other people were wounded in the shooting, police said.

 

The Grammy-nominated rapper found minor commercial success but was highly revered among his peers, and his shock death triggered an outpouring of tributes from hip hop royalty.

Long part of the underground rap circuit, Hussle struggled to find fame but began selling his own mixtapes, which rap king Jay-Z once bought 100 of for $100 each.

Hours before his death Hussle — whose youth was intertwined with Los Angeles gang culture — tweeted: “Having strong enemies is a blessing.”

Hussle’s “Victory Lap” scored a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album at this year’s ceremony.

It was his first formal album, which dropped after six years of teasing but ultimately lost the honor to rap’s woman of the moment Cardi B.