The 34-year-old son of Eugene “Big U” Henley, an accused Crips leader facing federal charges in a sprawling criminal case involving accusations of running a “Mafia-like” enterprise, died after being shot Friday night in South Los Angeles, officials said.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner identified the shooting victim as Jabari Henley. The fatal shooting occurred just after 11 p.m. at Figueroa and 69th streets in the Vermont-Slauson neighbourhood, said Norma Eisenman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department.
The shooting occurred after the victim had appeared to walk up to a vehicle, Eisenman said. Suspects inside the vehicle shot him and then fled the scene. There is no description of the suspects, Eisenman said. Jabari Henley’s father, Eugene “Big U” Henley, 58, is a well-known figure in hip-hop circles and helped launch the career of Nipsey Hussle, who died in 2019. Rapper Wiz Khalifa had called Eugene Henley the godfather of rap. One of Jabari’s brothers is Daiyan Henley, a linebacker with the Los Angeles Chargers.