Dolla’s Murderer Admits to Pulling Trigger, Claims Self-defense

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.

Mark Q. Murray, AP

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.

Donnie Beauchamp, Gaylord Entertainment / AP

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.

Filed Under: Akon, Dolla, Murder

Categories: Hip-Hop