Man Charged in Murder of Akon’s Road Manager

A man believed to have killed the road manager of singer/producer Akon has been taken into custody for the murder. Almalik Ward, 34, was arrested earlier this month, and charged with the 2004 shooting murder of Robert "Screw" Montanez.

Montanez was gunned down after attempting to prevent Ward from robbing rapper Capone of his jewelry, outside a bar in Jersey City, New Jersey. Akon had been filming a promo with Capone of Capone-N-Noreaga fame at the location on Dec. 16, 2004.

"It was about 5 of us in front of the spot," Rodini Almonacy, witness and publisher of Promo Mag, told AllHipHop.com after the shooting. "We were discussing putting Capone in the magazine. This guy went through us and tugged on Capone's chain. Capone said, 'You got one more time to touch my chain.' The guy was like 'What?' That's when Screw came in between them." Montanez was shot two times in the chest.

Although an investigation was launched at the time of the murder, witnesses have just recently come forward to identify Ward as the killer. His bail has been set at $1 million.