Eugene “Big U” Henley Jr., the 34-year-old son of notorious gang leader and music figure Eugene “Big U” Henley, was shot and killed on Halloween night in South Los Angeles. The fatal shooting occurred outside a smoke shop near 69th and Figueroa Streets around 11 p.m., according to police and local media reports.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the victim approached a vehicle when an unknown suspect or suspects opened fire. The shooters fled the scene immediately. While LAPD has not officially released the victim’s name, multiple outlets identified the deceased as Henley, the son of the former Rolling 60’s Crips leader.
Police have not yet determined a motive and declined to say whether the shooting was gang-related.
Henley’s father, “Big U,” is a well-known figure in both gang and music circles. Often referred to as the “godfather of rap,” the elder Henley once managed Nipsey Hussle and has long been associated with the Rolling 60’s Neighborhood Crips. He has also been accused of running a “check-in” extortion scheme, allegedly demanding fees from celebrities and entertainers entering Crips-controlled areas to ensure their safety.
A recent federal affidavit stated that “Big U” and his associates “manufacture the very danger they purport to protect against,” adding new scrutiny to his alleged operations. He has previously faced charges for kidnapping and robbery and was named in the investigation of rapper Rayshawn Williams’ 2021 murder, though not formally charged.
Henley’s brother, Daiyan Henley, currently plays for the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL. The killing marks another tragic chapter in a family long entangled in L.A.’s gang and music underworld.
