Big U’s Son’s Killer Apologizes In Court & Reveals That He Did It For Nispey
💔 The Tragic Convergence: Jabari Henley’s Murder and the Ghost of Nipsey Hussle
The murder of Jabari “Baby Wee” Henley, 34-year-old son of Los Angeles legend Eugene “Big U” Henley, on Halloween night 2025, was not merely a random street tragedy. It was a fatal eruption of years of street rumors and digital-age conspiracy theories surrounding the death of rapper Nipsey Hussle, revealing the deadly consequence of mixing personal beef, legacy, and social media radicalization.
The Crime and the Victim
Jabari Henley was shot multiple times at close range outside a smoke shop near the infamous intersection of 69th Street and South Figueroa in South Los Angeles. The attack was quickly labeled “targeted.” Jabari, born in 1991, grew up under the shadow of his father, Big U—a former Rollin 60s Crips leader turned music executive who was instrumental in launching Nipsey Hussle’s early career.
Jabari, nicknamed “Baby Wee,” was attempting to legitimize his father’s Unique Records label, though his path was complex. He was caught between his family’s deep roots in street culture and the legitimate music business, a conflict highlighted by his brother, Dian Henley (an NFL linebacker), who represented a successful exit from street life. The cruel timing saw Big U receive the news while incarcerated on federal RICO charges.
The Killer’s Confession: “I Did It For Nipsey”
Barely a week after the murder, 27-year-old Deshawn “Lil Price” Walters was arrested during a traffic stop in Compton after being found with the murder weapon.
Months later, at his sentencing on February 21, 2026, after being convicted of first-degree murder, Walters delivered a stunning courtroom confession that validated years of online rumors: “I did it for Nipsey.”
Walters claimed the act was an attempt at “balancing the scales,” arguing that Big U was to blame for not protecting Nipsey Hussle from his 2019 killing (despite Eric Holder’s 2022 conviction). Walters stated that the widespread belief among some fans was that Big U “took someone we all loved… and his son Jabari, he carried that same energy, that same name.”
The Danger of Digital Radicalization
The trial revealed that Walters was not motivated by direct knowledge or evidence but by conspiracy theories and street gossip. Forensic psychologists testified that Walters suffered from “conspiratorial radicalization,” becoming increasingly isolated and radicalized by years of consuming online content that painted Big U as the ultimate villain in Nipsey Hussle’s story.
Judge Maria Lopez, in sentencing Walters to 35 years to life, condemned the crime as a “tragic manifestation of misinformation and misplaced loyalty.” She emphasized that to invoke Nipsey Hussle’s name while committing murder was the “ultimate betrayal of his legacy,” which stood for peace and community empowerment.
The Decade-Long Feud
Walters’ motive was rooted in the decade-old, complex relationship between Big U and Nipsey Hussle:
Mentorship and Split (2005–2012): Big U mentored Nipsey, providing connections and credibility through Unique Records. However, the relationship fractured, culminating in a heated 2012 “parking lot incident” where Nipsey demanded to be released from his obligations, viewing Big U’s approach as mixing “business from the streets.”
The Shadow of Extortion (2016 onward): After Nipsey successfully pursued an independent path with All Money In, rumors circulated that Big U was running an alleged extortion network, forcing artists and athletes to “pay tax” or “check in” for protection in certain areas. Although unproven at the time, this narrative took hold, solidifying the public perception of Big U as a coercive figure.
The Final Betrayal: These persistent rumors, amplified by social media, mutated after Nipsey’s death into an unsupported yet widely believed conspiracy that Big U was somehow culpable. Deshawn Walters’ misguided act of revenge against Jabari Henley, based entirely on online folklore, tragically demonstrated how easily a digital narrative can bleed into real-world violence, ultimately victimizing three families: the Asgodams, the Henleys, and the Walters.
