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Rapper "Dolla" Shot and Killed
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LOS ANGELES -- A judge has lowered bail from $5 million to just over $2 million for a 23-year-old Atlanta man accused of gunning down a rapper at the Beverly
Center.
Aubrey Louis Berry, is charged with murder in the May 18 shooting death of rapper Roderick Burton, who went by the stage name Dolla.
He also is charged with two counts of assault with a firearm for allegedly firing at two other people who were with the 21-year-old rapper.
Berry has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Berry's lawyer Howard Price says the shooting was self-defense.
The 21-year-old rapper was shot and killed as he and another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, were waiting at the valet stand after a shopping trip, according to Burton's publicist Sue Vannasing.
Berry was later arrested after being found at Los Angeles International Airport.
An anonymous law enforcement source said Burton and Berry were believed to have been involved in an altercation last week at an Atlanta strip club frequented by the hip-hop community, the Los Angeles Times reported.
An employee of Platinum 21 Adult Entertainment told The Times that Dolla was involved in a fight at the club on May 13 with a man known there as "A.B.," which matches Berry's initials.
During the brawl, which began inside and spilled into the parking lot, participants threatened each other and shouted out gang slogans, according to the employee, who declined to be named.
Detectives are traveling to Atlanta to further investigate the claims, according to the Times.
Burton arrived at LAX from Atlanta earlier in the day Monday and went to the Beverly Center to do some shopping, Vannasing said.
"Dolla" was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he died of his wounds.
Police said Berry was found at the ticket counter at Terminal 1 just hours later. He is believed to have dropped off a rental car before he was found, said airport police Sgt. Jim Holcomb.
"As the officers approached the suspect, they asked him, 'Do you know why we're here?"' Holcomb told the AP. "He put his (hands) up in the air and said, 'Yes, I've got a gun in my waistband. Don't shoot me."'
Airport police found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun and turned Berry over to Los Angeles police.
Dolla is best known for his work on the soundtrack for the 2006 dance film "Step Up" and for the two singles released with the singer Akon: "Like This" and "She So Fine."
He was in town to finish work on his first album, slated to be released this summer on Jive Records, Vannasing said.
His first single, released in 2007, was "Who the [Expletive] is that?"
Dolla was "an incredible artist," Akon's Konvict Entertainment said in a statement. "This is a senseless crime and the industry has lost a real talent. Our heart goes out to his family, friends, and fans."
Dolla's MySpace page said he once modeled for Diddy's Sean John clothing line and was signed to Jive and Elektra record labels.
Diddy's publicist did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday.
Dolla was born in Chicago in 1988 and moved with his family to the Los Angeles area and then to Atlanta, according to a biography on his MySpace.com page.
The biography said he lived a life full of misfortune, witnessing his father commit suicide at age 5 and turning to crime to support his family at age 10.
He began rapping as 12, and formed a group called Da Razkals Cru, according to the biography.
Aubrey Louis Berry, is charged with murder in the May 18 shooting death of rapper Roderick Burton, who went by the stage name Dolla.
He also is charged with two counts of assault with a firearm for allegedly firing at two other people who were with the 21-year-old rapper.
Berry has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Berry's lawyer Howard Price says the shooting was self-defense.
The 21-year-old rapper was shot and killed as he and another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, were waiting at the valet stand after a shopping trip, according to Burton's publicist Sue Vannasing.
Berry was later arrested after being found at Los Angeles International Airport.
An anonymous law enforcement source said Burton and Berry were believed to have been involved in an altercation last week at an Atlanta strip club frequented by the hip-hop community, the Los Angeles Times reported.
An employee of Platinum 21 Adult Entertainment told The Times that Dolla was involved in a fight at the club on May 13 with a man known there as "A.B.," which matches Berry's initials.
During the brawl, which began inside and spilled into the parking lot, participants threatened each other and shouted out gang slogans, according to the employee, who declined to be named.
Detectives are traveling to Atlanta to further investigate the claims, according to the Times.
Burton arrived at LAX from Atlanta earlier in the day Monday and went to the Beverly Center to do some shopping, Vannasing said.
"Dolla" was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he died of his wounds.
Police said Berry was found at the ticket counter at Terminal 1 just hours later. He is believed to have dropped off a rental car before he was found, said airport police Sgt. Jim Holcomb.
"As the officers approached the suspect, they asked him, 'Do you know why we're here?"' Holcomb told the AP. "He put his (hands) up in the air and said, 'Yes, I've got a gun in my waistband. Don't shoot me."'
Airport police found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun and turned Berry over to Los Angeles police.
Dolla is best known for his work on the soundtrack for the 2006 dance film "Step Up" and for the two singles released with the singer Akon: "Like This" and "She So Fine."
He was in town to finish work on his first album, slated to be released this summer on Jive Records, Vannasing said.
His first single, released in 2007, was "Who the [Expletive] is that?"
Dolla was "an incredible artist," Akon's Konvict Entertainment said in a statement. "This is a senseless crime and the industry has lost a real talent. Our heart goes out to his family, friends, and fans."
Dolla's MySpace page said he once modeled for Diddy's Sean John clothing line and was signed to Jive and Elektra record labels.
Diddy's publicist did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday.
Dolla was born in Chicago in 1988 and moved with his family to the Los Angeles area and then to Atlanta, according to a biography on his MySpace.com page.
The biography said he lived a life full of misfortune, witnessing his father commit suicide at age 5 and turning to crime to support his family at age 10.
He began rapping as 12, and formed a group called Da Razkals Cru, according to the biography.
WAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT WAS NOT COOL WAT THAT MAN DID FOR A GRIL BUT WE STILL LOVE YOU DOLLA R.I.P YOUR BIGS FAN
YARITZA CINTRON @ 10:09 AM CDT, Jun 22, 2009
this is crazyy but its very strange well to me because ive listen to his song georgia nights and it seems like he knew how he was going to die i will miss him and his music
ashley @ 12:06 PM CDT, Jun 11, 2009
it sucks that you would take someones life over words. words dont hurt they cant kill you stupid people with weapons can kill you
artavia @ 12:55 AM CDT, Jun 11, 2009
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