Kerry Lathan, the 56-year-old man who was shot outside Marathon Clothing the day of Nipsey Hussle's murder, was arrested after the incident for being involved with the late rapper.
Lathan was out on parole after serving 24-years behind bars for a murder charge. One of his parole conditions was avoiding involvement in gang-related activity, and since the police allege that Nipsey was affiliated with the Rollin '60's Crips, Lathan's presence during the shooting caused suspicion. In the days that followed Nipsey's murder, Lathan was approached by local authorities and arrested.
According to TMZ, the 56-year-old has been incarcerated at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, however according to sources at the L.A. Superior Court, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is no longer accusing Lathan of violating his parole.
The impetus behind the withdrawn petition remains unknown, although Nipsey's passing did bring together every corner of the South Los Angeles community—drawing support from notable figureheads like President Barack Obama. Given Lathan's arrest was based on Nipsey's alleged role in street gangs, those deciding his fate may have taken context into account.
During an interview with VladTV earlier this month, Lathan opened up about the moments before Nipsey's death, and how he ended up outside of Marathon Clothing that night.
"Me and my nephew were going up the street to console someone's parents... and he said 'you don't have to keep wearing that shirt, Unc,'" Lathan recalled. "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."
Upon realizing that the shirt he initially wanted was no longer available, Lathan approached Nipsey to inqure about when new ones would be coming in.
"He 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," he continued. "The gunman turned around the car and shot me, shot Nipsey, and then shot my nephew."
