Murder charges filed against Georgia man in Dolla slaying

Los Angeles County prosecutors filed murder charges this afternoon against a 23-year-old Georgia promoter who is accused of fatally shooting up-and-coming rapper Dolla at the Beverly Center.

Aubrey Louis Berry faces a single felony count of murder and two counts of assault with a firearm in the death of Dolla, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment later this afternoon in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

If convicted, Berry faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. He is being held on $1.1-million bail. 

The charges stem from the Monday shooting at the Beverly Center during an argument in the valet parking area. Burton had come to Los Angeles that day to put the finishing touches on his first album and stopped off at the mall to do some shopping.

Burton, who was shot several times as he stood near another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, was pronounced dead a short time later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Police say Berry fled the scene in a rented Mercedes. But officers quickly got the license plate from eyewitnesses and were able to put out a regional alert. Authorities tracked Berry to the waiting area at Terminal 1 at LAX.

When confronted by police, Berry "got up with his hands in the air and said, 'I have a gun in my waistband, don't shoot me,' " said airport police Sgt. Bill Holcomb.

Authorities say they are continuing to investigate the case but investigators said the shooting could have roots in a running dispute between the victim and the defendant in Atlanta. The sources told The Times that detectives said Burton and Berry were recently involved in an altercation at an Atlanta strip club frequented by the hip-hop community.

The sources would not say where the fight took place. But an employee of Platinum 21 Adult Entertainment interviewed by The Times said he recalled that Dolla was involved in a fight at the club May 13 with a man known at the club as "A.B," which matches Berry's initials.

--Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Roderick Anthony Burton II, a.k.a. Dolla. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Comments

[Marie]

This sounds harsh but with all the problems we're having in California, why did they bring this mess here? For such a young kid, this 'Dolla' looks like he was involved with all the wrong people. The gangsta rap lifestyle is a horrible path to choose in life! I wonder if his parents ever warned him about that.?

[East Side 09]

{Marie}

Well first of all why are you even commenting on the gangsta rap number one, he was a rapper trying make a living just like anybody else. There are problems every where not in just Cali, that's not an excuse for someone to kill somebody else. I hope the person who did this is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hater's are truly everywhere that's what this is all about. People really hate to see you do good. And there is proof of that everyday.....!

R.I.P Dolla

[Toni]

R.I.P Dolla

[Marie]

This is a column where people can comment, I commented. If you don't agree, well that's your choice but don't attack me for expressing my opinion. Make a living? uh okay, if you call that a living fine, that is YOUR right to comment. I repeat, a horrible way to make a living, look where it got him? It was not an accident, he was targeted and they followed him all the way to CALIFORNIA!!

[So Sad but true]

Well this really has nothing to do with gangsta rap this could have happen to any rapper today just because they are doing well and making money but it is so sad that this happen to such a young up coming rapper but any one who is known on t.v from rappers, singer, actors and even people on reality shows should be aware that they are pretty much targets for bums and thugs who have nothing going on in there life but to mess up someone else life but let us prey for dolla and his family r.i.p

[john Smart]

What a stupid waste. Killing and lives destroyed over a "dispute" at a strip club...

pathetic. Some people are too stupid for words.

[keysha]

Thats crazy man..this is what i talk about

[NIka]

May God rest his soul and I hope he was saved before he left this earth, life is too short and hopefully people realize that you can die or be killed when you least expect it. I feel so bad for him, but only God knows where he will spend eternity. May Jesus be with you all.

[Young Miss]

I'm Young Miss R.I.P to Dolla he was very young and talented and did not diserve to die may he rest in peace ATL/ CALI

[~Jaz~]

Marie i agree. the person below you maybe need to keep idiodic comments to themselves. First of all, just because you rap or live in cali doesnt mean you are "involved with the wrong people". Clearly he was shopping. Not hanging around a park smoking and drinking. We are ina recession. Unfortunately HATERS will kill the ones that can do just because they cant. He was a young dude out here doing things people only dreamed of. " I wonder if his parents ever warned him"! warned him of what? that everyday you walk the earth people wont always be smiling at you. That you wont be loved by everyone. Well thats common sence. He shot him over a continued argument/fight they had in the strip club. These young dudes out here are weak a hell. Dolla probably punished him and he shot him just to boost his EGO! when will these wack ass BOYS learn that being tough now-a-days is suicide. Not only do we now have another life taken due to nonsence, but now we have another young black male locked up and being everything society has already planned him to be. NOTHING!!

RIP Dolla. I hope "A.B" gets Life in Prison or Death. And yes i do support the death penalty!!!

[EDLEASHA]

r.I.P DOLLA($]I WILL ALWAY5 THINK BOUT U U WA5 JU55 A CUTIE LYKE IT5 CRAZY UR GONE DAMN I WI5H I WOULDVE MET U

[neisha]

OMG...!
thats so sad.. all my love goes out to your family and friends.. you dont have to worry GOD got you up there... <3 NEISHA

[houstonbound]

I'VE KNOWN AUBREY SINCE WE WERE IN THE 7TH GRADE AND IT'S NOT LIKE HIM TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. HE IS A CLASS CLOWN, VERY SARCASTIC, AN ULTIMATELY GENUINE PERSON, BUT HE IS ALSO MISUNDERSTOOD AT TIMES. FOLKS ARE MAKING IT SEEM AS THOUGH DOLLA WAS TARGETED BECAUSE HE WAS A "RAPPER"...YOU MUST REALIZE, HE IS STILL A NORMAL PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE FORTUNE AND THE FAME. YEAH THEY WERE BEEFING SO WHAT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT AT THE STRIP CLUB. IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, AND I AGREE THAT A LIFE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TAKEN BEHIND AN ALTERCATION, BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY AND NODOBY THAT WAS WITH DOLLA IS SAYING ANYTHING. AND AS FAR AS HATE IS CONCERNED...I DOUBT THAT WAS EVEN THE ISSUE AT HAND, AUBREY HAD A PROMISING FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM AND ALONG WITH DOLLA'S, HIS LIFE HAS COME TO AN END AS WELL. AUBREY HAD HIS OWN BARBER SHOP AND RESTAURANT...AND HE WAS IN LOS ANGELES TRYING TO OPEN UP ANOTHER RESTAURANT SO NO HE DIDN'T FOLLOW DOLLA ANYWHERE. PEOPLE ARE MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE A MONSTER AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IT REALLY IS. I'M NOT AT ALL JUSTIFYING WHAT HE DID, BUT IT IS MORE TO THE STORY THAT IS NOT BEING TOLD.

[??????]

all i can say is rip dolla
im not writing tis to dollas cause his dead
im not praying for dolla cause his dead theirs nothing prayer can do for him right now. im praying for his family and friends
eveything happens for a reason this can happen to anyone anytime, anywhere, u dont have to be a rapper to die eveyone that is living in tis world will pass away one day one time, lets not judge, let God jugde and live the life but
God will juge him for his wrongs and that person who kill him
and remember tis is the life God set us to live, live is not easy just try to make the best out of ur life.

[ladiereese KF 05]

houstonbound is right aubrey is a cool person to be around. He is smart and he has a good shoulder on his head. Its just unfortunate that he felt like his life was in great danger. For those who are judging him you can't say that you wouldn't have done what you had to do if you felt like you could get hurt either.

[ladiereese KF 05]

To Jaz, you should never wish death upon any one because GOD can really see where your heart is.

[Sapphire Davie]

mean dis is really bull wat happened to dolla I am really mad

[Dennis byron]

*** This is an official statement in response to attorney Howard K. Price's claim that his client Aubrey Berry acted out in self defense in the killing of Roderick Anthony Burton II ***

There are three (3) victims in this case and none of which is Aubrey Berry. His claim of self defense is very colorful but the fact is that he traveled from Atlanta with a loaded firearm for which he didn’t possess a carry permit for in the state of California and then he assassinates Mr. Burton and attempts to shoot his cousin Will Robinson and his close friend DJ Shabazz. Dolla was doing what he normally does and that is to come to town and record in the studio and visit his family. He has been a recording artist for many years and being a member of any gang is as far fetch as Mr. Berry’s claim of self defense. Mr. Price is attempting to argue his client’s case in the media but the courtroom is where this matter will be dealt with.

Dennis Byron, Spokesperson for The Burton Family

--
Tel: 404-396-5838
Twitter: dennisbyron

[Count DeMonet]

I, as a musician find it amazing that people buy into this fantasy gangsta- lifestyle and think it makes them somehow glamourous! They really believe that they can go out and actually shoot people, just like the video games and seem genuinely surprised when they get booked for murder and spend the rest of their lives rotting in prison. Man, what a waste of a life! Goes to show you, people just don't bother to think about the big picture and the consequences that come with acting out their childish fantasies. I hope these folks all wake up before it is too late.