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Jabari “Baby Uiie” Henley — son of former Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips boss and one-time music exec Eugene “Big U” Henley — was shot and killed late Friday night in South Los Angeles.
The 34-year-old was standing outside a smoke shop near 69th and Figueroa when a gunman opened fire around 11 p.m., according to LAPD statements shared with TMZ and local stations. First responders attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooter fled and has not been identified.
Baby Uiie was the older brother of Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, who played through the tragedy just 48 hours later. The 25-year-old delivered one of his strongest NFL performances of the season — seven tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup — and paused after the sack to look up and salute his brother.
“I just wanted to talk to my brother one more time,” he told reporters post-game. “It was an emotional moment for me… I had to send a prayer up and hope he heard it.”
Henley said he leaned on his father for strength before deciding to suit up: “As traumatizing as all this is, I got a job to do… I just wanted to go out there and let it out.”
The killing comes less than a year after Big U — a polarizing figure in both LA street politics and hip-hop business circles — surrendered to federal authorities in March on a sprawling RICO case. Prosecutors allege he ran a criminal operation tied to murder, extortion, human trafficking, and charity fraud, naming him the lead target in a 43-count indictment.
Big U, who once built Uneek Music into a development pipeline for West Coast artists and mentored names across the LA rap scene, has pleaded not guilty.
Among the charges is the alleged murder of aspiring rapper Rayshawn Williams, who signed to his label before reportedly being killed over a diss track in 2021.
Prosecutors also accused Big U of making athletes and celebrities “check in”, or pay a fee in order to have permission to move about freely in Los Angeles. They also allege he defrauded companies, donors, and celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond Green.
Music figure Termaine “Luce Cannon” Williams, also named in the indictment, reportedly broke the news of Baby Uiie’s death to Big U from jail.
As of now, LAPD hasn’t confirmed whether the shooting was gang-related.
Baby Uiie’s family, including Daiyan, has not issued a public statement beyond Sunday’s post-game comments.
