Man Who Was Shot during Nipsey Hussle's Murder Speaks out about His Arrest

The man who was shot alongside Nipsey Hussle last month just spoke out about his incarceration for associating with the rapper on the day of his death.

Kerry Lathan spoke with VladTV via telephone and revealed that he was barely healed from his gunshot injury before the cops arrested him for violating his parole.

Lathan, 56, served 24 years in prison for murder and was let out about seven months ago. He was released early from a 26-to-life sentence at the time. The interview is found below.

Lathan explained that on the day he was shot, he was actually planning to go with his nephew "up the streets to console someone's parents." They took a detour to Hussle's Marathon Clothing store on the way.

His nephew initiated the trip when he said:

"You don't have to keep wearing that shirt, Unc. You in the new world now, you not in prison you don't have to keep wearing that shirt. Matter of fact there goes Nipsey in the lot right now he'll give you a fresh new white shirt."

The specific shirt Lathan wanted was not in stock at the time. This prompted him to approach Hussle in the parking lot and inquire about the next time they'd have the shirts available.

Lathan said:

"He [nephew]said, 'There go Nipsey in the lot, go talk to him.' And I talked to him and he said 'that'll be about a week, bro.' I said, 'Okay.' And when I said it it was all bad. The gunman turned around the car and shot me, shot Nipsey, and then shot my nephew."

Lathan was hit in the back, his nephew was also shot, and Hussle received the fatal shot from alleged shooter Eric Holder. Lathan is now confined to a wheelchair as a result of the incident.

At the hospital, parole officers arrived and told Lathan he had violated his parole for being near Hussle on March 31. His attorney, Lauren Noriega, said it was "a potential parole violation simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Lathan also argued that Hussle is a positive member of his community so the association being construed as negative doesn't add up.

He explained:

“I just did 25-years-to-life. Y’all release me, then want to throw me back in jail for coming into contact with a gang member who’s really a voice and piece of the public? Which one is it? They have to make heads and tails of what’s going on.”

According to Noriega, Lathan could also not have known about Hussle's affiliation with gangs. Lathan said Hussle was around seven or eight when he was locked up.

He did take a picture with him simply because of Hussle's celebrity status and the fact that everyone was doing it.

Noriega further explained:

“Unfortunately, Mr. Lathan is facing a potential parole violation because his arrest was made without complete knowledge of the underlying facts. We are zealously pushing for a prompt parole hearing in order to demonstrate that this arrest is not proper.”

Lathan is currently at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles and based on the expected trial, could face up to ten years in prison. His family started a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical bills and legal fees.

Meanwhile, the alleged shooter will be represented by the same prosecutor who defended O.J. Simpson, Chris Darden. He offered a not guilty plea for Holder earlier this month.

An initial hearing saw Darden argue an issue of identity regarding his client in the attack. However, prosecutor John McKinley said the matter is irrelevant as social media has pictures of Holder everwhere.

Holder was charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is to return to court on May 10 and is being held on a $5 million bail.