Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed while reportedly helping his friend Kerry Latham. After serving 25 years in prison, Latham needed new clothes, and Nipsey decided to stop by the Marathon Clothing store to get a few items on March 31, 2019.
While at the store, Nipsey was shot and killed, and Latham was shot in the back. Latham was later arrested for being with Nipsey, a known gang member, during the time of the shooting — a violation of his parole. For the first time since being shot and arrested, Latham broke his silence during a phone conversation recorded by Nipsey’s former manager, Big U.
During the conversation, uploaded by Hampton Blu Network, Latham revealed that he could face a substantial amount of time in prison.
“They’re trying to send me back … for life,” Latham said. “Due to gang association. I was with an activist, a peacemaker in the community who was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. It’s an injustice.”
Latham shared that he was picked up by authorities while at a halfway house.
“I checked myself out of the hospital because they weren’t giving me the care that I needed,” he said. “A piece of my spine was chipped off due to the bullet. So I decided to get care at the halfway house. I went back, and three parole officers told me I was under arrest. They said the orders came from someone higher up. I’m facing life in prison for being a victim.”
Latham, 56, began serving his time in prison at age 31. He says he’s not involved in crime, but he’s only been able to receive help from friends who he knew in the past. Those friends are often gang members.
“Gangs are the only family I have left,” Latham said. “My mother died while I was in prison, and I had a stroke so I had to use a walker. This bullet put me in a wheelchair … I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do, and they’re still doing me wrong. It’s an injustice.”
At the end of the call, Big U asked for viewers to support Latham by putting pressure on the district attorney to release him from jail.
