The man charged with murdering Konvict Music artist Dolla has admitted to taking the young rapper's life, but claims the shots were fired in self-defense. The 23-year-old Atlanta native, Aubrey Louis Berry, has made a statement through his lawyer claiming that he was "scared for his life" when he pulled the 9mm semiautomatic handgun which left Dolla dead and two others wounded.
Berry had a previous violent altercation with Dolla, whom Berry claims to have been a Crip gang member, in an Atlanta club earlier this month.
According to Berry's lawyer, it was mere coincidence that his client then ran into the young rapper again on Monday in a Los Angeles P.F. Chang's restaurant, where Berry alleges Dolla threatened him in the bathroom.
Departed Music Personalities
Dolla, May 18: The Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, was gunned down outside a Los Angeles mall. Burton's publicist told reporters he was waiting at a valet stand after a shopping trip when a gunman shot him. The 'Make a Toast' star was 21. A suspect is in custody.
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Stephen Bruton: The guitarist and songwriter, who worked with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson, died from complications of throat cancer in May 2009. He was 60.
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Ean Evans: The Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist died in May 2009 after what the band called "a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer."
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Vern Gosdin, April 29: The country hit-maker, best known for songs like 'I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)' and 'I'm Still Crazy,' died in Nashville from complications due to a stroke.
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Rev. Timothy Wright, April 23, 2009:The two-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer died following a July car crash that took the lives of his wife and his grandson.
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David "Pop" Winans, April 9, 2009: The gospel music patriarch -- BeBe and CeCe are his kids -- was twice nominated for Grammys, in 1989 for his album with wife Delores, pictured, and again in 1999 for a solo album. He died at a Nashville hospice, seven months after suffering a heart attack and stroke.
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Bud Shank, April 2, 2009: The alto saxophonist and flutist died at age 82. He was most famous for his work with acts like the Mamas and the Papas and his flute work can be heard on their song 'California Dreamin'.'
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Hal Durham, March 29, 2009: He was a fixture on the Grand Ole Opry stage, working at the famed country music institution for 32 years. He was 77.
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Dan Seals, March 25, 2009: The singer, who scored a number of pop and country hits, died at 61 of leukemia. Seals was half of the pop duo, England Dan and John Ford Coley, best known for the ballad, 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight.'
Beth Gwinn, Retna
Uriel Jones, March 24, 2009: One of the original members of the Funk Brothers, a Motown group that played with Marvin Gaye and The Temptations, Jones died after suffering complications from a heart attack. He was 74.
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Berry's lawyer has yet to make a statement as to the exact circumstance that lead to the shooting, stating only that it was self-defense.
Berry was apprehended with a loaded handgun at LAX airport, immediately following the shooting. His bail has now been raised to $5 Million.
Dolla had a promising career as a member of Akon's Konvict Music roster, having recently appeared on two Akon singles, "Like This" and "She So Fine," while prepping his upcoming album, 'A Dolla and a Dream.' Click here to see a tribute to the slain rapper.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
caradenjacksonat 5-22-2009
Since when do a man with a gun fear for his life from a man without a gun??? Call me dumb, slow, or stupid, but that don't make much sense. They had problems that started in Atlanta, and yet, it's coincidental that he ran into the same man in a LA bathroom, but he waited to shoot him in the valet area? Unbelievable!!! Really...! People will say anything to get sympathy points, what he need to do is take responsibility for his actions instead of making lame excuses. God knows exactly what happened.
Miltonat 5-22-2009
God isnt the only one. It wont hold up,not even close. This dumbass is probably looking at the death penealty. And he is stupid too, thinks he can casually murder a man and board an airplane.He should fry or be injected for stupidity alone.
Kai2Sweetat 5-22-2009
okay so this BS rings as a bad Law n Order show or something since when in real life do people tell on themselves and not even make up good entertaining stories i'm sorry but if commit a crime you better call CSI or something because i am not gonna tell on myself. And since when does an unarmed man scare the ish of of somone with a 9mm? self defense means the dead one had a gun and i shot him before he shot me. the rapper had shopping bags what did this fool think he was gonna Gucci him to death so he shot him? geezus talk about the worlds most retarded criminals.
Kai2Sweetat 5-22-2009
oh yeah BTW put me on the jury screw murder i'm givin his ass life for being stupid. I truly do not want people this stupid walking free in Cali to influence others
minitammy2at 5-23-2009
this is so sad the killer is just dumb and probaly had no reason at all and only confessed because her was already caught its dumb stuff like this that makes me mad
minitammy2at 5-23-2009
i meant they not her
imaayanaat 6-04-2009
Understood NO why would u kill someone just to kill em cuz u might dislike that person but who gives a damn who u dont like you should just let it go cuz dat person might not even have a problem wit you dat was wrong for him to die like dat true only god does know what happened he was only 21 just about to start his career
Swag Splasherat 9-01-2009
Rest In Peace
Roderick Anthony "Dolla" Burton II
Dolla Baby